Dick's hatband
- noun
- UK
:
estilo llamativo
- He wore a neon suit that looked like Dick's hatband at the wedding.
Examples
-
The new sports car, with its gold rims, is as flashy as Dick's hatband.
-
She decorated the room with so many colors, it was starting to resemble Dick's hatband.
-
That outfit is so Dick's hatband!
-
Her dress was a bit too Dick's hatband for the wedding.
-
The singer's outrageous hairstyle was as flashy as Dick's hatband.
-
At the party, his outfit was so showy that everyone called it Dick's hatband.
-
That car has such a bright paint job; it's definitely a Dick's hatband on the road.
Synonyms
69
4.1
Very bright or showy in a way that attracts attention
35
6.5
Being very bright and showy to attract attention
13
4.8
A bright, showy look that tries to impress people
8
3.2
Bright or fancy in a way that draws attention
7
4.9
Very bright and showy to get attention but not in good taste
4
8.4
Having a smart, lively, and slightly bold look or manner
3
7.4
Showy in a way meant to attract attention
Very strange in a way that people notice
Looks very fashionable and showy, often wearing bright clothes
Bright, bold, showy clothes or style that attract attention
Very bright or loud in style to attract attention
Attractive and stylish in a bold, showy way
Having bright, stylish clothes or decorations that look showy for parties
Looking like a cap or acting showy and boastful
How Showy
Surface Forms
Morphology
Dick's + hatband
Although 'hatband' is literally a decorative strip on a hat, the possessive proper name 'Dick's' does not convey why something would be described as unusually showy; the overall idiomatic use (as slang for 'very flashy/eccentric') is culturally specific and not derivable from the parts. A B1 learner who knows the constituents would be unlikely to infer the figurative meaning without prior exposure, so the expression is opaque.
Etymology
Dick's hatband may come from a story about a man called Dick who always wore a loud, shiny hatband on his hat. Because the hatband stood out and drew attention, people used the name for anything 'showy' or 'flashy'.