attention whore
2
9.9
- noun
- /əˈtɛnʃən wɔr/
- Offensive
:
[término vulgar/ofensivo para persona que busca atención]
- He posts outrageous photos on social media because he's an attention whore who craves likes and comments.
Examples
-
I've kind of always been, for lack of a better word, an attention whore.
Blog text (3) -
Cats are attention whores sometimes, especially when they see that someone or something is getting more attention than they are.
Blog text (18) -
You were always just an attention whore.
-
How does this make you an attention whore?
Blog text (4) -
You are an attention whore.
Blog text (17) -
The entire family is nothing more than a bunch of attention whores.
Blog text (3) -
Scott Adams is a pathetic attention whore.
Blog text (26) -
Everyone can see that Trump is a pathetic attention whore, but he just keeps tweeting nonsense.
Blog text (17) -
I think he's an irresponsible attention whore.
Blog text (3) -
You're an attention whore.
Blog text (3)
Synonyms
2
7.6
A person who tries hard to get public or media attention
1
9.1
A person who tries hard to get attention from the media in an obvious way to become more famous
1
9.9
A person who tries too hard to get attention from many people
1
7.9
A person who shows off to get attention
A person who tries to get noticed by being with famous people or doing things to get attention
Antonyms
How Attention-Seeking
- Offensive
2
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'attention' + 'whore' so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer it refers to someone who seeks attention excessively. However, the use of 'whore' is metaphorical, derogatory and relies on pragmatic/slang knowledge to capture the exact evaluative nuance, making the relation only partially predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
The phrase attention whore compares someone who wants attention to a whore, a person who sells themselves, which gives the clear image of someone acting in an obvious way just 'to get attention'. That's why it means 'a person who tries too hard to get attention'.