See also: showoff and show-off

English

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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show off (third-person singular simple present shows off, present participle showing off, simple past showed off, past participle shown off)

  1. (transitive, idiomatic) To exhibit the best attributes of something.
    Synonym: parade
    Grocery stores show off their produce by placing the most attractive specimens in front.
  2. (transitive and intransitive, idiomatic) To attract attention to for the purpose of bragging or personal exhibitionism; to demonstrate a skill, talent or property for the purpose of bragging or personal exhibitionism.
    Synonym: flaunt
    She loves to show off her driving prowess.
    She loves to show off when she gets behind the wheel of a car.
    • a. 1897, Katharine Prescott Wormeley, transl., A Start in Life[1], translation of Un début dans la vie by Honoré de Balzac:
      “Listen, my Oscar,” she said, resuming at once her tender voice, “you have a propensity to talk, and to tell all you know, and all that you don’t know; and you do it to show off, with the foolish vanity of a mere lad. []
    • 2014 June 29, Adam Sherwin, “UK cinemas ban Google glasses over piracy risk”, in The Independent[2]:
      If you've just acquired a Google Glass headset for £1,000, don't show it off at the movies. UK cinemas are to ban the headsets over fears that the gadgets can be used to make pirate copies of Hollywood blockbusters.
    • 2022 September 7, “Network News: High-speed car crash blocks Tube Line”, in RAIL, number 965, page 23:
      She told the press that the group had been for an evening out and that the driver has been showing off by driving fast.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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show off (plural show offs)

  1. Nonstandard spelling of show-off.

See also

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