open display

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A situation in which something is shown or expressed clearly for everyone to see.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'in open display of something'; countable with 'a' or 'an'.

   Patterns

   • in open display of something
   • an open display of emotion

   His tears were an open display of grief.

   The protest was an open display of anger at the new law.

   She never makes an open display of her feelings.

2. 2nouncountable

   A public showing of goods or works, with no restriction on who may look.

   Grammar: Countable: 'an open display', 'open displays'. Contrast with a private or members-only showing.

   Patterns

   • an open display of something
   • put something on open display

   The museum put the letters on open display for the first time.

   The shop keeps its most expensive watches in an open display near the door.

Word forms

Common combinations

open display of emotion

Crying in public is an open display of emotion that some cultures discourage.

open display of affection

The couple made no open display of affection in front of the children.

open display of wealth

The party was an open display of wealth.

in open display

The crown jewels are kept in open display behind thin glass.

Synonyms and how they differ

show

A show can be intentional entertainment; an open display stresses that the thing is visible to everyone and often not hidden.

exhibition

An exhibition is an organized public event with exhibits, while an open display may simply be something left visible to view.

Word family

display noun

An arrangement of things for people to look at.

display verb

To put something where people can see it.

Commonly confused: open display or on display?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “open display”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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