If you say that someone isshowing off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or what they own.
[disapproval]
All right, there's no need to show off. [VERBPARTICLE]
He had been showing off for her at the poker table. [VERBPARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If you show off something that you have, you show it to a lot of people or make it obvious that you have it, because you are proud of it.
Naomi was showing off her engagement ring. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Body builders shave their chests to show off their muscles. [VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
He actually enjoys his new hair-style and has decided to start showing it off. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If something shows something off, it emphasizes its good features so that it looks especially attractive.
She had made Helen a dress which showed off her tiny waist. [VERBPARTICLE noun (not pronoun)]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
4. See also show-off
See full dictionary entry for show
show-off
also showoff
Word forms: plural show-offs
countable noun
If you say that someone is a show-off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obviousway what they can do or what they own.
[informal, disapproval]
Synonyms: exhibitionist, boaster, swaggerer, hot dog [mainly US] More Synonyms of show off
show off in British English
verb(adverb)
1. (transitive)
to exhibit or display so as to invite admiration
2. (intransitive) informal
to behave in such a manner as to make an impression
nounshow-off
3. informal
a person who makes a vain display of himself or herself
show-off in British English
(ˈʃəʊɒf)
noun
informal
a person who tries to impress people by showing what they can do, or what they own
That horrible little show-off!
show off in American English
1.
to make a display of; exhibit in a showy manner
2.
to behave in a manner intended to attract attention
See full dictionary entry for show
Examples of 'show off' in a sentence
show off
It was because if we'd met on neutral ground, he'd have been unable to show off his social `success'.
Isabel Wolff RESCUING ROSE (2002)
She knew no coquetry until she saw grey cat's: did not pose, flirt, roll, scamper, or show off.
Doris Lessing ON CATS (2002)
She couldn't wait to start walking around in full hedgehog gear so she could show off the whole outfit.
Isobel Bird CIRCLE OF THREE: BOOK 5: IN THE DREAMING (2001)
"I am so angry, I am shaking, thinking of poor little Daniel, trying so hard to please his big, handsome, show-off father.
Skelton, Alison Scott AN OLDER WOMAN (2001)
Whatever the reason, the ceremonial uniforms were gorgeous, and Tristan wore his with the confidence of one born to show-off.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
He was a show-off, determined that everyone sharing the same bit of road as him would see he was a big man with a flashy Jag.
Val McDermid DEAD BEAT (2001)
In other languages
show off
British English: show off /ʃəʊ ɒf/ VERB
If you say that someone is showing off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or what they own.
All right, there's no need to show off.
American English: show off
Arabic: يَفْتَخِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: exibir-se
Chinese: 炫耀
Croatian: razmetati se
Czech: vychloubat se
Danish: prale
Dutch: opscheppen
European Spanish: presumir
Finnish: leveillä
French: exhiber
German: angeben prahlen
Greek: κάνω φιγούρα
Italian: ostentare
Japanese: 見せびらかす
Korean: 과시하다
Norwegian: vise seg
Polish: popisać się
European Portuguese: exibir-se
Romanian: a se făli cu
Russian: рисоваться
Latin American Spanish: presumir
Swedish: skryta
Thai: ทำตัวเด่น
Turkish: gösteriş yapmak
Ukrainian: хизуватися
Vietnamese: khoe khoang
(phrasal verb)
Definition
to flaunt skills, knowledge, or looks in order to attract attention or impress people
He had been showing off at the poker table.
Synonyms
boast
She boasted about her achievements.
brag
He'll probably go around bragging to his friends.
blow your own trumpet
The camera crew have good reason to blow their own trumpets.
swagger
It's bad manners to swagger about how rich you are.
hot-dog mainly US)
showboat
strut your stuff (informal)
make a spectacle of yourself
See show
(noun)
Definition
a person who flaunts his or her skills, knowledge, or looks in order to attract attention or impress people
(informal)
He's outgoing, but not a show-off.
Synonyms
exhibitionist
She's always been a shameless exhibitionist.
boaster
swaggerer
hot dog mainly US)
poseur
egotist
an insufferable egotist with delusions of omnipotence
braggart
a swaggering jovial prankster and braggart
braggadocio
peacock
figjam (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blow your own trumpet
Definition
to boast about one's own skills or good qualities
The camera crew have good reason to blow their own trumpets.
Synonyms
boast,
crow,
brag,
vaunt,
sing your own praises,
big yourself up (slang, Caribbean)
in the sense of brag
Definition
to speak arrogantly and boastfully
He'll probably go around bragging to his friends.
Synonyms
boast,
crow,
swagger,
vaunt,
bluster,
talk big (slang),
blow your own trumpet,
blow your own horn (US, Canadian)
in the sense of braggart
Definition
a person who boasts loudly or exaggeratedly
a swaggering jovial prankster and braggart
Synonyms
boaster,
show-off (informal),
bluffer,
swaggerer,
brag,
blusterer,
swashbuckler,
braggadocio,
hot dog (US),
bigmouth (slang),
bragger,
skite or skiter (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
figjam (Australian, slang)
Nearby words of
show off
shove off
shovel
show
show off
show someone the door
show someone up
show something off
Related terms of
show off
show something off
Synonyms of 'show off'
show off
Explore 'show off' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of egotist
an insufferable egotist with delusions of omnipotence
Synonyms
egomaniac,
boaster,
swaggerer,
self-seeker,
braggart,
braggadocio,
narcissist,
bighead (informal),
blowhard (informal),
self-admirer,
figjam (Australian, slang)
in the sense of swagger
Definition
to walk or behave in an arrogant manner
It's bad manners to swagger about how rich you are.