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to swank

to swank

1 8.3
To show off your clothes or things to seem important
  • verb
  • /swæŋk/
  • Informal
translation icon : presumir de
  • The celebrity was eager to swank his latest luxury car in front of the paparazzi.

Examples

  • He loves to swank about in his new designer suit, drawing everyone's attention at the party.

  • Vito got to swank around as the boss of bosses for a couple of months before the feds scooped him up.

  • It'd be Lord and Lady Snot swanking it up and down the grass.

  • Oh, ain't we swank?

  • On the right occasions, he swanked about his humble origins, though the hint of Durham Catherine had once found so beguiling was no longer detectable in those smooth, mid-Atlantic tones.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • During the fashion show, many models swank in extravagant outfits to impress the audience.

Synonyms

to show off
vsto swank
  • Informal
216 3.2

To act proudly to get attention or praise

is more ostentatious and pretentious than mere attention seeking
to flash
vsto swank
67 3.3

To show something quickly to get attention

is more about ongoing ostentatious display rather than brief glimpses
to flaunt
vsto swank
62 5.7

To show something in a very obvious way to get attention

is more pretentious and focuses on display of status
to boast
vsto swank
53 4.9

To show something you own to get people's attention

is more about ostentation and pretension than simple prideful display
to tart
vsto swank
  • UK
4 6.9

To make something look showy to attract attention

is broader, applying to any ostentatious display not only dressing
to showboat
vsto swank
  • Informal
1 7.5

Act in a flashy way to get attention

tends to be more about pretentious display than stagey performance
to peacock
vsto swank
  • Informal
1 8.1

To dress or act in a very showy way to attract attention

is similar but stresses pretension and showing wealth or status
to tart up
vsto swank
  • UK
1 8.9

To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention

is more general, covering self display beyond decorating or dressing
to ostentate
vsto swank
9.9

To show things in a way that makes people admire you

focuses on showing oneself or possessions rather than any object
to flash around
vsto swank
  • Informal
7.0

To show off expensive things, like a watch or car, to impress other people

focuses on ostentatious self or general display rather than only possessions
to gasconade
vsto swank
  • Archaic
9.9

To talk about yourself to show you are more important

focuses more on physical display and possessions than verbal boasting
to pimpin'
vsto swank
  • Slang
9.9

Behaving in a showy, confident way to impress people

is similar but stresses pretentious display of self or possessions
to prink
vsto swank
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

is more openly pretentious and focuses on bold ostentation
to dizen
vsto swank
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress or decorate in a very bright way to get attention

is broader, emphasizing pretentious display of possessions or self

How Showy

to show off
  • Informal
216 3.2
to flaunt
62 5.7
to swank
  • Informal
1 8.3
to display
439 1.9
to exhibit
173 3.4

Surface Forms

swank infinitive
swanked past
swanked past participle
swanking present participle
swanks third person singular

Etymology

Swank (verb) may come from old dialect words for walking proudly or making a bold movement, and a helpful way to remember it is to picture someone moving like a swan, head high and catching people's eyes. So, to swank is to 'show off' yourself or your things in a showy way.