Meaning trap
show up
embarrass by comparison
To make someone feel embarrassed or appear less capable, skilled, or impressive by comparison, often unintentionally.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To make someone feel embarrassed or appear less capable, skilled, or impressive by comparison, often unintentionally.
'show up' also has the more basic meaning 'arrive (especially unexpectedly or after being late)'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Her flawless presentation really showed up the rest of the team.social
- If one team member consistently shows up others by outperforming them, it can lead to resentment and undermine group cohesion.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: show (someone) up
WrongShe showed up me in front of the boss.
RightShe showed me up in front of the boss.
With a pronoun the object goes in the middle — 'showed me up', not 'showed up me'.
Patternshow (someone) up
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Show up' is the natural phrase for outshining/embarrassing someone; the formal version is wordy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
show someone upin front ofshowed me upcompletelyby comparison
Don't confuse it
This sense is figurative and does not refer to arriving or becoming visible. Instead, it focuses on the effect one person’s actions have on another’s reputation or perceived ability.
Related
- show up (arrive (especially unexpectedly or after being late)) — 'show up' also has the more basic meaning 'arrive (especially unexpectedly or after being late)'; this is the advanced sense.