# show ankle

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/show-ankle
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To provide a hint or to reveal partial information in order to gain attention or arouse interest.

## Examples

- The company showed a little ankle to attract new investors.
- You should show some ankle to make the recruiters curious about your skills.
- The director showed some ankle about the new project to keep the press interested without revealing the full plan.
- The politician showed a bit of ankle regarding her future plans to see how the public would react before making an official announcement.
- By showing just enough ankle regarding the upcoming merger, the executive successfully piqued the curiosity of the board members without committing to any specific details.

## Origin

Probably an allusion to the flirtatious practice of some young women in the first half of the twentieth century, the phrase is thought to refer to the lifting of a long skirt just enough to reveal a bare ankle. The gesture was considered a calculated display of skin intended to signal interest while maintaining a facade of modesty. The exact point of transition from a physical act to a figurative expression of partial disclosure remains unproven. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.