No shame about it vs Proud

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

No shame about it

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Proud

Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most common: Proud
 No shame about itProud
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //nəʊ ʃeɪm əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇺🇸 //noʊ ʃeɪm əˈbaʊt ɪt//🇬🇧 /["/praʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praʊd/"]/
MeaningFeeling okay with something you did, even if it's not usually accepted.Feeling happy and satisfied about something you did or achieved.
ExampleShe walked in wearing those bright shoes with no shame about it.She felt proud of her accomplishments after finishing the marathon.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsshow no shame, feel no shame, have no shamebe, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, of, have every reason to be proud, have every right to be proud, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, of, have every reason to be proud, have every right to be proud
Antonyms-ashamed, humiliated, modest
Common mistakesUsing 'shame' instead of 'guilt' (they mean different things)., Confusing this phrase with 'never been ashamed of it' (which has a different emphasis).Incorrectly using 'proud' without 'of,' e.g., saying 'I am proud my son.', Mixing up 'proud' with 'prideful,' which has a more negative connotation., Using 'proud' to describe feelings unrelated to achievements.
Usage notesUse this phrase to express confidence or acceptance of your actions. It's suitable in most informal and casual conversations.Use 'proud' to express satisfaction about someone else's or your own achievements. It's suitable for both informal and formal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual settings when referring to serious accomplishments.

See it in real clips

No shame about it

Frequently asked questions: No shame about it vs Proud

What's the difference between No shame about it and Proud?

No shame about it: Feeling okay with something you did, even if it's not usually accepted. Proud: Feeling happy and satisfied about something you did or achieved.

Which is more common: No shame about it and Proud?

Proud is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

No shame about it: She walked in wearing those bright shoes with no shame about it. Proud: She felt proud of her accomplishments after finishing the marathon.

Can I use No shame about it and Proud interchangeably?

Not always. No shame about it and Proud are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons