to be a poser
- phrasal verb
- Offensive
- If you're just trying to show off, then you're really just a poser.
Examples
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I didn't even mention the whole fear of being a poser.
Blog text (33) -
I guess I'm a poser.
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-Always thought you were a poser.
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This is a poser; do not believe them.
Blog text (16) -
And it always turns out that the lefty is a poser.
Blog text (4) -
Only posers fall in love, SO you're a poser.
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I don't really think you're a poser.
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-Don't be a poser.
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You're a poser.
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Don't be a poser by pretending to like things you actually don't.
Synonyms
To act as if something is true when it is not
To pretend to be someone you are not to trick people
Pretend to be another person by copying their looks, voice or actions
To show yourself as a certain kind of person to make others think that way
To pretend to be someone else to hide the truth
Pretend to have qualities or feelings you do not have
To make something or someone look real when they are not
Make something look better than it really is
Act as if you are better than other people
Pretend to be another person to trick people or act in a role
Pretending to be someone else to trick people
To pretend to be someone else to trick people
Antonyms
How Pretentious
- Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'be' (to have an identity) + 'a' (article) + 'poser' (a person who feigns attributes) yields the meaning 'to be someone who pretends.' This is a standard noun-predication pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can reliably infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Be a poser comes from the idea of someone who poses — they stand in a way to show off, like for a photo, to look cool. Imagine a person striking a pose to 'impress' others; that's why be a poser means 'to pretend to be someone you are not' to get attention or respect.