someone showing off

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasedisapproving

   A person who is behaving in a way meant to impress others or attract attention.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: someone showing off can be the subject or object of a sentence.

   Patterns

   • see someone showing off
   • someone showing off to someone
   • stop someone showing off

   There's a boy on the diving board showing off for his friends.

   I can't stand people showing off about how much they earn.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   A person who is displaying a skill or possession proudly to be admired.

   Grammar: Often followed by with or to: showing off with a new phone, showing off to the class.

   Patterns

   • showing off with something
   • showing off to someone

   She was showing off her new watch to everyone at lunch.

   He kept showing off with his skateboard tricks until he fell.

Common combinations

showing off in front of someone

He was showing off in front of the older kids.

stop showing off

Stop showing off and help us carry these boxes.

showing off about something

She is always showing off about her exam results.

catch someone showing off

The teacher caught him showing off during the lesson.

Synonyms and how they differ

boasting

Boasting is only about talking proudly; showing off can also be about actions, clothes, or objects.

bragging

Informal and about words, while showing off may involve no words at all.

posturing

More formal and suggests pretending to be important or tough rather than simply seeking attention.

Opposites

Word family

show-off noun

a person who likes to impress others

show off verb

to behave in a way that attracts admiration

showy adjective

bright or grand in a way that draws attention

Commonly confused: someone showing off or showing up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “someone showing off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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