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show-off

show-off

12 4.8
A person who tries to get attention by doing things to impress others
  • noun
  • /ˈʃoʊˌɔf/
  • Offensive
translation icon : presumido
  • Jimmy didn't know what the hell the little show-off was talking about.
  • just a show-off
  • little show-off

There are people that think they're special and they may kind of be show offs or whatever.

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Examples

Synonyms

exhibitionist
vsshow-off
7 7.5

Someone who behaves to get attention by showing off skills or style

often seeks admiration and may boast rather than only showing skills
braggart
vsshow-off
  • Offensive
4 7.7

A person who talks a lot about themselves to show off

attracts attention by actions or style rather than only by loud speech
grandstander
vsshow-off
  • Literature
1 8.6

A person who tries to get attention by doing showy things in front of other people

aims for attention or admiration generally, not only for public applause
showboater
vsshow-off
  • Informal
1 7.9

A person who shows off to get attention

focuses more on gaining admiration and boasting rather than flashy display
flosser
vsshow-off
  • Slang
9.9

A person who shows off things like money or clothes to impress others

seeks attention or admiration more broadly, not only by material display

How Showy

attention whore
  • Offensive
2 9.9
show-off
  • Offensive
12 4.8
braggart
  • Offensive
4 7.7

Surface Forms

show-off singular
show-offs plural

Morphology

show-off = show off (semi-transparent) = off + show

The noun is clearly based on the phrasal verb 'show off', but the person-denoting noun is a conventionalized extension rather than a fully literal combination.

Etymology

Show-off comes from the verb show off, where show means 'to display' and off makes it something done for others to see, like showing your best skill or clothes; so a show-off is a person who displays things or abilities to get attention.