History Main / MilesGloriosus

* Arguably Kamina from {{Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann}}.

* Captain Hammer in ''DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' is a variant: he's an arrogant blowhard, but he's also as tough and brave as he says. The only reason he's brave, however, is because he is so super-strong and NighInvulnerable that he has never been injured in is life. It's telling that he flees, [[VillainousBreakdown crying like a baby]], the very second that he feels pain for the first time.

** To be fair, if you had never felt any pain before, how would ''you'' react? And it wasn't just any pain, he was at ground zero for a small explosion. Contrast this, however, against Dr. Horrible's reaction; he's felt pain all his life, much of it at the hands of Captain Hammer. Karmic justice indeed. Until the twist.

* Captain Hammer in ''DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' is a variant: he's an arrogant blowhard, but he's also as tough and brave as he says. The only reason he's brave, however, is because he is so super-strong and invulnerable that he has never been injured in is life. It's telling that he flees, [[VillainousBreakdown crying like a baby]], the very second that he feels pain for the first time.

** To be fair, if you had never felt any pain before, how would ''you'' react? And it wasn't just any pain, he was at ground zero for a small explosion.

* {{WWE}}'s Sheamus. He always talks a big game about just how much of a badass he is - and while he can take down the majority of WWE's roster with ease, he becomes a cringing coward when opposed by top-tier competition like JohnCena, TheNexus, and RandyOrton.

* Ash's Mijumaru from {{Pokemon}}. While this crops up occasionally in the anime, he makes it apparent, putting on a cocky attitude until he faces an opponent that is actually challenging, such as the Grass-type Yanappu or his own evolved form.

** A prequel short story makes it clear that he was always a BadAss, almost to the point of foolhardiness; at one point, he defended a lone man attacked by a group of bandits without hesitating.

** "Miles Gloriosus" is Latin for "boastful soldier", and even before {{Plautus}} the term was used for a comic stock character in Roman theater.

* [[{{Plautus Titus Maccius Plautus's]] ancient Roman play ''Miles Gloriosus'' is the TropeNamer, making this one OlderThanFeudalism.

May be the TedBaxter, but may also be running a con -- and may be proud of his cleverness rather than his alleged prowess. It can be hard to tell because one of his chief traits is his utter shamelessness. No matter how clearly he was reduced to quivering terror by the merest hint of danger, as soon as the danger ends he will snap back to the boasting mode. He is incapable of realizing that people might think better of him if he says ThinkNothingOfIt.

The [[MilesGloriosus Miles]] [[ItIsPronouncedTroPAY (pronounced "me-LAYS")]] [[MilesGloriosus Gloriosus]] is usually a soldier, or claiming to be one. (The title means Braggart Soldier in Latin.) GreatWhiteHunter, GentlemanAdventurer, or other dangerous occupations are also possible.

The [[MilesGloriosus Miles]] [[ItIsPronouncedTroPAY (pronounced "me-LAYS")]] [[MilesGloriosus Gloriosus]] is usually a soldier, or claiming to be one. (The title means Glorious Soldier in Latin.) GreatWhiteHunter, GentlemanAdventurer, or other dangerous occupations are also possible.

* Plautus' ancient Roman play ''Miles Gloriosus'' is the TropeNamer, making this one OlderThanFeudalism.
** "Miles Gloriosus" is Latin for "boastful soldier", and even before Plautus the term was used for a comic stock character in Roman theater.

* {{WWE}}'s Sheamus. He always talks a big game about just how much of a badass he is - and while he can take down the majority of WWE's roster with ease, he becomes a cringing coward when opposed by top-tier competition like JohnCena, TheNexus, and RandyOrotn.

* Zapp Brannigan from ''{{Futurama}}'': He will never rush in to a fight, but obtained a reputation of being a good fighter through his willingness to throw wave after wave of his own men at an enemy, while avoiding any risk to himself. If he does end up fighting, it's because he believes he has an overwhelming advantage, or is too stupid to realize that he's in danger.

Compare SmugSuper.

* Captain Hammer in ''DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'' is a variant: he's an arrogant blowhard, but he's also as tough and brave as he says. The only reason he's brave, however, is because he is so super-strong and invulnerable that he has never been injured in is life. It's telling that he flees, [[VillainousBreakdown crying like a baby]], the very second that he feels pain for the first time.

* In William King's {{Warhammer 40000}} SpaceWolf novel ''Wolfblade'', Torrin warns Ragnar that despite his bragging (and his fat), Haegr really is formidible (and the fat is StoutStrength).

* Gaston in ''Film/BeautyAndTheBeast'' could probably fit this. He is thought of very highly in the village for his various accomplishments (which are not really explained beyond hunting, being good-looking, spitting, stomping around in boots, and decorating with antlers) and is brave enough to hunt down the Beast only when he has a mob in front of him. When he's held over a cliff, he starts crying and begging to be saved.