to show off
216
3.2
- phrasal verb
- /ʃoʊ ɔf/
- Informal
:
presumir de
- Many photographers accepted these new opportunities to show off their work, with one individual entering nine sections.
- opportunity to show off
- proudly shows off
- show off their bodies
She's wearing a dress that is showing off her swelling belly.
- She's wearing a dress that is showing off her swelling belly.
- So I feel like it shows off just the right amounts of things.
- It's a place where we want to show off products.
- I'm not a smoker, I'm just showing off a full length body pic.
- But, you know, the doing physics is not about showing off as being smart.
- Is it to just show off, which is a very weak motivator?
Examples
-
By the end of my presentation, the kids lined up to show off their own birthmarks!
Academic text (2010) -
I need to do a few victory laps around the city, show off a little bit, have a late night or two.
-
It's a place where we want to show off products.
-
This is me showing off how good my game is.
-
Come on, let me show off!
-
The popular girls dress in all the tight clothes to show off their bodies.
Academic text (2002) -
Instead, China is going to show off a few select items.
-
So men tend to show off in this particular way more than women.
-
I can't wait to show off my new outfit tonight.
-
She loves to show off her cooking skills at family gatherings.
Synonyms
173
3.4
To show something to the public or show a feeling
68
5.1
To wear or show something to get attention
67
3.3
To show something quickly to get attention
62
5.7
To show something in a very obvious way to get attention
47
3.9
To walk or behave to show off and attract attention
14
3.7
To get the most attention or praise at an event
12
7.7
To show off something to impress other people, often on social media
5
4.9
To wave something in a dramatic way to attract attention
3
7.7
To confidently show your skills or style to impress people
1
7.5
Act in a flashy way to get attention
1
9.9
Act in a showy way to impress people
1
8.3
To show off your clothes or things to seem important
1
7.5
To behave so others notice you in an embarrassing way
1
8.9
To talk proudly about your achievements to show off
To show things in a way that makes people admire you
Act in a loud way to get attention and impress people
To show off expensive things, like a watch or car, to impress other people
To talk about yourself to show you are more important
To brag about what you have done
To try to impress people by showing off or being charming
Antonyms
How Showy
Surface Forms
Morphology
show + off
The meaning is directly built from 'show' (to display) plus the particle 'off' which conveys an outward/attention-seeking display; together they yield 'display to attract attention or admiration', a straightforward compositional interpretation. Although 'off' is not defined here, the phrasal-verb pattern is common and a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended boastful/display sense.
Etymology
The phrasal verb show off comes from the image of someone holding a new watch or skill up so everyone can see it, where you show the thing and push it out for others to notice as off. That's why show off means 'to try to attract attention or admiration' by acting proudly.