Meaning trap
show off
display something proudly
To display something or someone so that people will notice and admire it or them.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To display something or someone so that people will notice and admire it or them.
Another meaning of 'show off' is 'boast'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- 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
Fix the pattern
Pattern: show something/someone off
WrongShe showed off it to everyone.
RightShe showed it off to everyone.
With a pronoun the object goes in the middle — 'show it off', not 'show off it'.
Patternshow something/someone off
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
Natural; 'eager to exhibit' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
show off + prized thingher new carthe ringhis skillsthe 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.