Below you will find one of the uses of the phrasal verb 'show off' which you are likely to find used in the Cambridge Advanced exam.

In addition to the meaning/definition, you will also find two examples of it being used with this meaning (to help you better understand its use and the context it is used in).

In order to remember this use, make sure to make an example in your own words with the phrasal verb.

Use

When you either try to impress someone or make someone jealous by showing them how good you are at something, making them aware about who you know or what you own.

"When I went to his house, he showed me all these photos of him with famous people, like Brad Pitt, Beyonce etc..."
"He loves to SHOW OFF. It makes him feel more important than the rest of us."

Look at her SHOWING OFF again about how good she is at painting. We all know how good she is at it, but she doesn't have to keep telling us all about it all the time.

Click here to watch a YouTube video on this meaning of the phrasal verb


Return to the list of 50 commonly phrasal verbs in the CAE exam.