show card

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusiness

   A piece of stiff card with a name, price or advertising message, placed near goods in a shop to catch buyers' attention.

   Grammar: A normal countable noun: a show card, two show cards.

   Patterns

   • show card for something
   • put up a show card

   The baker put a show card by the pastries with the price on it.

   A bright show card announced the sale on the shop window.

   The brand sent every store a free show card.

2. 2nouncountablebusiness

   A card with a sample of materials, such as cloth or paint colors, that a seller shows to customers so they can choose.

   Grammar: Often used by sellers and designers: a show card of fabric.

   Patterns

   • show card of something

   The decorator brought a show card of wallpaper colors.

   We chose the shade from the paint show card.

   She flipped through the show card of tiles.

Word forms

Common combinations

print a show card

We need to print a show card for the opening.

window show card

The window show card read: Half price today.

counter show card

A counter show card stood next to the till.

hand-lettered show card

The cafe used a hand-lettered show card for the menu.

Synonyms and how they differ

display card

This is a more common and more general phrase for a card shown with goods.

price card

This is narrower, since it only gives the price.

sample card

This is the better name when the card carries actual samples, as in the second meaning.

placard

This is usually larger and can be carried or put on walls, not just in a shop.

Word family

show verb

to display something so it can be seen

showcase noun

a glass case or event for display

showroom noun

a room where goods are displayed

card noun

stiff paper

Commonly confused: show card or credit card?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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