show off — display something proudly
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To display something or someone so that people will notice and admire it or them.
Say it like a native
Textbook She was eager to exhibit her new engagement ring to everyone.
Native She couldn't wait to show off her new ring.
Natural; 'eager to exhibit' is formal.
Pattern: show something/someone off
In use
- She loves to show off her cooking skills at family gatherings.daily life
- Many people enjoy showing off their traditional clothes during festivals in my country.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She showed off it to everyone.
✓ She showed it off to everyone.
With a pronoun the object goes in the middle — 'show it off', not 'show off it'.
Common collocations
show off + prized thing— her new car, the ring, his skills, the baby
Don't confuse it
This sense is about making something visible, not just talking about it.
Related
- show off (boast) — Another meaning of 'show off' is 'boast'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.