# show off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/show-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to try to make people notice your skills or things you own because you are proud of them. You use this when someone wants attention or praise.

For teachers: to display someone or something in a manner intended to invite admiration or attention. The verb functions both intransitively to describe boastful behavior and transitively to highlight a specific attribute.

## Examples

- He likes to show off his new car to his friends.
- During the talent show, Sarah decided to show off her piano skills by playing a difficult classical piece.
- The architect designed the glass atrium specifically to show off the building's innovative structural engineering and natural light integration.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is always show offing." but "He is always showing off." — Inflectional endings like '-ing' or '-ed' must be attached to the base verb 'show' rather than the particle 'off'.

## Usage notes

- When used transitively, the object can sit between 'show' and 'off' or follow the particle.
- Teaching tip: Introduce the hyphenated noun form 'show-off' to describe the person, noting its typically negative connotation compared to the verb.

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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.