A show-off is a person who performs their talents purely to be admired. Not doing it — being seen doing it.
It is one of the earliest social criticisms children learn to make, and calling somebody a show-off is a real rebuke in a playground. British culture is unusually hard on it, and modesty about achievement is a strong expectation. The verb show off splits round an object. There is a neutral use about objects, since a display shows off a room to advantage.
1nounshow-offA person who tries to impress others with their abilities.
“He was a terrible show-off at that age.”
a deverbal from show off.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Man Called Ove
First appears in chapter 3 of A Man Called Ove.
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