show off

show off
1) PHRASAL VERB (disapproval) If you say that someone is showing off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or what they own.

[V P] All right, there's no need to show off...

[V P] He had been showing off for her at the poker table.

2) PHRASAL VERB If you show off something that you have, you show it to a lot of people or make it obvious that you have it, because you are proud of it.

[V P n (not pron)] Naomi was showing off her engagement ring...

[V P n (not pron)] Body builders shave their chests to show off their muscles...

[V n P] He actually enjoys his new hair-style and has decided to start showing it off.

3) PHRASAL VERB If something shows something off, it emphasizes its good features so that it looks especially attractive.

[V P n (not pron)] She had made Helen a dress which showed off her tiny waist. [Also V n P]

4) See also show-off

English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Show off — est une foire d art contemporain créée à l initiative de galeristes privés, qui existe depuis octobre 2006, et se déroule concomitamment avec la FIAC (Foire internationale d art contemporain), mais sur un lieu distinct, l espace Pierre Cardin… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • show off — {v. phr.} 1. To put out nicely for people to see; display; exhibit. * /The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show off her shell collection./ * /The girls couldn t wait to show off their fine needlework to our visitors./ 2. {informal} To try to… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • show off — {v. phr.} 1. To put out nicely for people to see; display; exhibit. * /The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show off her shell collection./ * /The girls couldn t wait to show off their fine needlework to our visitors./ 2. {informal} To try to… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • show off — (something) to cause something to be seen and admired. The ballet music gives the Kirov s male dancers a chance to show off their astonishing leaps. She was wearing a deep purple dress that showed off her slim figure. Oscar was so proud of the… …   New idioms dictionary

  • show-off — n informal someone who always tries to show how clever or skilled they are so that other people will admire them often used to show disapproval ▪ She s a bit of a show off …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • show-off — show′ off n. 1) a person given to pretentious display 2) the act of showing off • Etymology: 1770–80 show′ off ish, adj …   From formal English to slang

  • show-off — show offish, adj. /shoh awf , of /, n. 1. a person given to pretentious display. 2. the act of showing off. [1770 80; n. use of v. phrase show off] Syn. 1. exhibitionist, braggart. * * * …   Universalium

  • show-off — 1776 (n.) a display; see SHOW (Cf. show) (v.). In ref. to the person who makes an ostentatious display, attested from 1924. The verb is first recorded 1793 …   Etymology dictionary

  • show-off — show offs N COUNT (disapproval) (The spelling showoff is also used, especially in American English.) If you say that someone is a show off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or …   English dictionary

  • show off — ► show off 1) boastfully display one s abilities or accomplishments. 2) display (something) that is a source of pride. Main Entry: ↑show …   English terms dictionary

  • show off — index expose, flaunt Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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