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To show off: metaphors

ThomasK

Senior Member
Belgium, Dutch
In some other thread this topic was treated but translations and reference to the underlying metaphors were scarce. Can we try again but mainly referring to the metaphors now?

In English: showing off = grandstanding, posing, showboating. So references to behaviour, to ways of standing (or so I believe) and to theatre, I guess (threatre boat)...

In Dutch:
- grootspreken (grand-speaking),
- bluffen (might remind of hitting, considered to be an onomatopeia), pochen (id.: hitting),
- snoeven (probably related to sniff, referring to the nose), met de neus in de lucht (nose in the air)
- opscheppen, opsnijden: scoop up (like soup) op = with the big spoon; carving (cutting) op = the big pieces
More colloquial expressions:
- stoffen, stoefen (French estoffer, decorate) ,
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ThomasK knows I am in the middle of a very large, joint-translation at the moment so I offer a few possibilities from Welsh quickly:

bod yn falch dy big = to be beak-proud. (Sorry, I can't think of a better translation. I DO NOT want to say 'to be proud of your beak' which is another construction and means something else.)

dangos dy ganol = to show your centre/middle. (The idea being your puffing out your belly/stomach (cf English: 'puffing out your chest').

bod fel ceiliog dandi = to be like a dandy cock/rooster.

gwneud Ned = to make Edward.

dangos dy hun = to show yourself.

gwneud sioe ohonot ti dy hun = to make a show of yourself (cf English to make an exhibition of yourself - although that may have more negative associations about you.)
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pöyhistellä < pöyhistää "to puff up, to fluff"
leveillä, levennellä < leveä "wide"
mahtailla < mahtaa "to be able", mahtava "grand, magnificent", "mighty, powerful"
kukkoilla < kukko "cock, rooster"
rehennellä, probably from the same root as rehevä "lush, exuberant"
leuhkia, leuhkailla < leyhyä/löyhyä "to wave, to waft"
ylpeillä < ylpeä "proud" < ylä- "upper", "superior"
ylvästellä < ylväs "noble", compare ylevä "sublime", from ylä-, yle- as well
kerskailla < kerskua < ?, there is also kerskakulutus "conspicuous consumption"
pröystäillä < ?
rehvastella < ?
lesoilla, lesottaa, lesota < ?

A common element is the frequentative suffix -ella/-illa. The frequentative is used for non-goal-oriented actions and as such it describes the action as less serious than the simple verb, possibly ridiculous.
Thanks a lot both of you. i see very interesting things! I have a suggestion though, as for the lay-out. As most of us do not speak one another's languages (except for English and French, maybe Spanish), I'd suggested to write the original verb in italics and the underlying metaphor in bold.

Just by way of example: (but mind you: while reading I have also tried to categorize by venturing upon an interpretation (with one space dividing categories) and even suggesting a conclusion, which might be preposterous as I do not know Finnish...
pöyhistellä < pöyhistää "to puff up, to fluff" >>> to create a lot of air (using one's mouth) and nothing substantial
kukkoilla < kukko "cock, rooster"
leuhkia, leuhkailla < leyhyä/löyhyä "to wave, to waft">>> crowing, making lots of noise, lots of (but no content?)

leveillä, levennellä < leveä "wide"
rehennellä, probably from the same root as rehevä "lush, exuberant"
mahtailla < mahtaa "to be able", mahtava "grand, magnificent", "mighty, powerful"> I just guess: big, i.e., taking a lot of space, making oneself big (bigger than ...)

ylpeillä < ylpeä "proud" < ylä- "upper", "superior" >>> feeling oneself bigger
ylvästellä < ylväs "noble", compare ylevä "sublime", from ylä-, yle- as well >>> >>> feeling oneself better

Kind of conclusion (?)
kerskailla < kerskua < ?, there is also kerskakulutus "conspicuous consumption" >>> bigger and better quantities just helping to be seen

A common element is the frequentative suffix -ella/-illa. The frequentative is used for non-goal-oriented actions and as such it describes the action as less serious than the simple verb, possibly ridiculous. >>> Very interesting: always trying to be bigger, better?

pröystäillä < ?
rehvastella < ?
lesoilla, lesottaa, lesota < ?
@Welsh_Sion : I might be back with a similar proposal for Welsh (just BTW: I greatly appreciate your efforts!!!)...
In Welsh (by Welsh_Sion, but with some interpretations added by ThomasK, and categorized a bit [proposal]). There seem to be three underlying metaphors (...). @Welsh_Sion: there is one that is not clear, the last one...

NOSE
bod yn falch dy big = to be beak-proud. >>> always a nose issue (nose in the air)?

ATTITUDE (body - focus on breast/...)
dangos dy ganol = to show your centre/middle. (The idea being your puffing out your belly/stomach (cf English: 'puffing out your chest'). >>> Oh yes, I could imagine a parallel with Dutch: een hoge borst opzetten (put up a high breast)
dangos dy hun = to show yourself. (
gwneud sioe ohonot ti dy hun = to make a show of yourself (cf English to make an exhibition of yourself - although that may have more negative associations about you.)

ANIMALS
bod fel ceiliog dandi = to be like a dandy cock/rooster. >>> Oh yes, certain animals are symbols or arrogance or pride or something (peacock/pauw with us)

gwneud Ned = to make Edward. --- I have no clue here
To show off: this list is short, I have imposed too big a constraint, I think. There must be a lot of near synonyms. They need not be too literally metaphorical.--- I remain interested in equivalents of "to showcase" and "a showcase". I suppose "a shopwindow",however, is too prozaic or too common to refer to a showcase.

As for (near) synonyms like show, display, exhibit, flaunt, produce, unveil, expose, demonstrate (source: m-w.com), they are to some extent metaphorical if one takes the etymological origin into account. Flaunting seems to refer to " flakka "to waver" (related to flag (v.1))", according to etymonline.com. "Ex-hibit" (habere) seems to refer to holding (in one's hands) to be seen, I deduce from the explanation at etymonline.com. Idem as for "display", like déployer in French, unfolding, spreading out to be seen. Unveil speaks for itself.

Like in French: mettre en valeur (which I knew without knowing the meaning very precisely) vs. une vitrine (referring to the glass, le vitre, I guess). And I guess des étalages help to étaler products.

Funny thing: in Dutch étalages serve the same purpose, as uitstalraam (a window for "ex-posing" in a very neutral sense,lit., like a shopwindow). However, when we say that someone obviously wants to etaleren her/his skills, then that is seen as showing off: he wants them to be noticed by all. Here uitstallen would be strange: that is what happens in a (plain) shop, like putting in the shopwindow simply.
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I think you have analysed the Welsh very well, @ThomasK.

'To make Edward' is not part of my vocab. in any language and can only say that this is what appears in the Welsh dictionary. I venture to suggest however it may allude to the King of England, Edward I, and his conquest of Wales in the late 13th century and subsequent imposition of his son as 'Prince of Wales'. Perhaps his whole attitude (he also attempted to subdue the Scots subsequently) and his building of the (now UNESCO sites) of fortified castles all over Wales to prevent any rebellion (the so-called 'ring of steel') may indicate an overriding arrogance and this gave rise to the expression.

After all 'Ned' is a diminutive of 'Edward' in both Welsh and English ... Just a thought.
At the moment I can only think of пускать пыль в глаза (puskát' pyl' v glazá), ~"to throw dust in the eyes" (the expression is somewhat literary) in Russian.
Just wondering as I do not know any Russian: isn't that more like misleading (we have a similar expression in Dutch), not really boasting, showing off? I do see the resemblance but maybe your expression is more pejorative than showing off...
Just wondering as I do not know any Russian: isn't that more like misleading (we have a similar expression in Dutch), not really boasting, showing off?
About demonstrative, often spectacular actions or verbal presentations that are intended to create an inflated, embellished image of oneself or something else. It's not exactly equivalent to showing off, but it's even hard to tell whether the differences lie in the semantics or purely in the connotations. Anyway, any other translation will be contextual.
when we say that someone obviously wants to etaleren her/his skills, then that is seen as showing off: he wants them to be noticed by all.
Yes in French, étaler (son savoir, sa culture...) has the same use.

mettre en valeur (which I knew without knowing the meaning very precisely)
Mettre en valeur is usually positive ("to highlight").

une vitrine (referring to the glass, le vitre, I guess).
Apart from the primary meaning of vitrine (shop window, showcase), it can be used metaphorically in marketing vocabulary:
Ce modèle est la vitrine de notre marque ("This model is the flagship of our brand")
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Greek:

1-«Κάνω φιγούρα» [ka.no̞ fiˈɣu.ɾa] --> to show-off lit. to go on splurge; the noun is «φιγούρα» [fiˈɣu.ɾa] (f.) a loanword from Italian figura, and in every-day language describes dance move, splurging, showing-off, ostentatiousness.
The person showing-off is a «φιγουρατζής, -τζού» [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠is̠] (m.), [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠u] (f.). A car or a fancy item bought for showing-off is «φιγουρατζίδικο» [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠i.ðiko̞] (n.).

2-«Mοστράρω» [mo̞ˈs̠t̠ɾa.ɾo̞] < Italian verb mostràre. It's synonymous with (1) but I'd say it's older, very rarely used, almost obsolete nowadays.

3-«Κορδώνομαι» [ko̞ɾˈðo̞.no̞me̞] (deponent verb) --> lit. to appear like a cord stretched to its limits, from the neuter «κορδόνι» --> cord, shoelace, string, a boomerang word: Ancient Greek feminine noun «χορδή» /khorˈdɛː/ > Latin chorda > Venetian cordon > Byzantine Greek «κορδόνι(ο)ν» /korˈðo.ni(o)n/ > MoGr «κορδόνι».

4-«Κοκορεύομαι» [ko̞ko̞ˈɾe̞.vo̞me̞] (deponent verb) --> lit. to show-off like the rooster, from the MoGr name for the cock, rooster, «κόκορας» [ˈko̞.ko̞ɾas̠] (m.), an onomatopoeia.

5-«Επιδεικνύομαι [e̞piðiˈkni.o̞me̞] --> to show-off, flaunt, flex, the mediopassive form of the learned active verb «επιδεικνύω» [e̞piðiˈkni.o̞] --> to display, show, demonstrate < Koine Greek verb «ἐπιδεικνύω» /epideːˈkny.ɔː/ (idem) < Ancient Greek athematic verb «ἐπιδείκνυμι» /epiˈdeː.knymi/.
About demonstrative, often spectacular actions or verbal presentations that are intended to create an inflated, embellished image of oneself or something else. It's not exactly equivalent to showing off, but it's even hard to tell whether the differences lie in the semantics or purely in the connotations. Anyway, any other translation will be contextual.
But then you are quite right: those must be about the same meanings. And I guess your general statement will be quite right too: it is often difficult to distinguish between semantics and connotations. Sorry!
Greek:

1-«Κάνω φιγούρα» [ka.no̞ fiˈɣu.ɾa] --> to show-off lit. to go on splurge; the noun is «φιγούρα» [fiˈɣu.ɾa] (f.) a loanword from Italian figura, and in every-day language describes dance move, splurging, showing-off, ostentatiousness.
The person showing-off is a «φιγουρατζής, -τζού» [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠is̠] (m.), [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠u] (f.). A car or a fancy item bought for showing-off is «φιγουρατζίδικο» [fiɣuɾaˈd͡z̠i.ðiko̞] (n.).
interesting: we could say in Dutch that we want to slaan <[beat, hit] een goed figuur. We would like to impress...
3-«Κορδώνομαι» [ko̞ɾˈðo̞.no̞me̞] (deponent verb) --> lit. to appear like a cord stretched to its limits, from the neuter «κορδόνι» --> cord, shoelace, string, a boomerang word: Ancient Greek feminine noun «χορδή» /khorˈdɛː/ > Latin chorda > Venetian cordon > Byzantine Greek «κορδόνι(ο)ν» /korˈðo.ni(o)n/ > MoGr «κορδόνι».
Something like: we do the utmost to impress?
4-«Κοκορεύομαι» [ko̞ko̞ˈɾe̞.vo̞me̞] (deponent verb) --> lit. to show-off like the rooster, from the MoGr name for the cock, rooster, «κόκορας» [ˈko̞.ko̞ɾas̠] (m.), an onomatopoeia.
Here we might think of a peacock (pauw), the symbol of vanity: fier (proud) als een pauw. The rooster to us is more like a leader: haantje-de-voorste, someone who is the cock of th walk. Strange or funny how perceptions of animals differ...
5-«Επιδεικνύομαι [e̞piðiˈkni.o̞me̞] --> to show-off, flaunt, flex, the mediopassive form of the learned active verb «επιδεικνύω» [e̞piðiˈkni.o̞] --> to display, show, demonstrate < Koine Greek verb «ἐπιδεικνύω» /epideːˈkny.ɔː/ (idem) < Ancient Greek athematic verb «ἐπιδείκνυμι» /epiˈdeː.knymi/.
/deiknuomai/ (as in indication) is not really pointing at something then. It is really showing. Both showing and showing off?
At the moment I can only think of пускать пыль в глаза (puskát' pyl' v glazá), ~"to throw dust in the eyes" (the expression is somewhat literary) in Russian.
Just wondering as I do not know any Russian: isn't that more like misleading (we have a similar expression in Dutch), not really boasting, showing off? I do see the resemblance but maybe your expression is more pejorative than showing off...

CYM. taflu llwch i lygaid rhywun - To throw dust into someone's eyes.

For us, indeed, this has the meaning of 'misleading/tricking someone', often used as a warning ('Paid â gadael i rywun ... ' / 'Don't let someone ... ') with regard to the (empty) promises of campaigning politicians, of all hues.
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I would add that actually, any metaphors of the kind are destined to have specific meanings/usage as specializations of a more general meaning of "showing one's own importance" - so, the menrioned "throwing dust in the eyes" means (at least in Russian) mainly specifically the impressing people by buying expensive things or telling about one's own wealth.

And here and as a sidenote, I have one guess. The meaning of "show off" is more general. In Russian, it is even more general because we have it vulgar and with no specific semantics: выёбываться constructed as "out-f*ck-self", with euphemistic replacers выделываться, выпендриваться - in the first of them, the vulgar root is replaced by "doing", and in the secong the root is unclear- and I guess that both the "doing" is there in order to escape any specificity, and the unclear etymology in the second, is such just because nobody needs it to be clear.
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The main meaning in Dutch in my view is misleading people so as to make them think that the speaker is better than he seems to be, but not at all by fraud or criminal practices, rather by some kind of story-telling. You could even say that most of us try that once in a while, I think: trying to have ourselves perceived as better than we are, not just about money, etc. MOre like seeking to generate/... a better status for ourselves.

I am not sure I quite understand what you suggest in the second paragraph. I certainly agree that all of the afore/...-mentioned are realization of the underlying general meaning, i.e. "show off". But as for the (avoidance of) specificity, I am not sure. I am not so sure we distinguish between the two: any of the terms mentioned before is clear to some extent, I think, but also remains a little vague, as is often the case with word meanings. Language tries to make clear, but is bound not to achieve perfection. No?
In Russian, it is even more general because we have it vulgar and with no specific semantics: выёбываться constructed as "out-f*ck-self"
But, even aside from the connotation, the meaning isn't the same at all. Showing off is generally socially acceptable, with the typical purpose of creating a positive image (though only partly true). Выебываться is plainly about demonstrating imaginary superiority, typically through sophistication, not socially expected. And I don't think it's any more "general" (the meaning of the word, after all, rarily can be reduced to the sum of the meanings of its morphemes anyway).
But, even aside from the connotation, the meaning isn't the same at all. Showing off is generally socially acceptable, with the typical purpose of creating a positive image (though only partly true).
But "socially acceptable" is not about meaning, it is about so called style.
My view is that vulgar terms are tabooed simply because they denote things directly - such as feces or reproductive organs and processes, so that as a result, you kind of perceive them as if the real objects were shown to you; and euphemisms, by contrast, in order to mask the images, add something to semantics - so "feces" is actualy "shit" + "let's look at it in the academic manner". That is, "decent" terms usually seem to be the neutral ones, but actually it's the vulgar terms that are neutral semantically. The vulgar term выебываться works in every situation of "showing off" and more - so, I'm not sure if "showing off" is used when a man is stubborn in the sense that either he/she has an opinion about something or doesn't want to do something or to go somewhere with the group; what's implied ultimately is anyway "thinks too much of himself/herself" - that is, the basic self-importance I was referring to.
I am not sure I quite understand what you suggest in the second paragraph. I certainly agree that all of the afore/...-mentioned are realization of the underlying general meaning, i.e. "show off". But as for the (avoidance of) specificity, I am not sure. I am not so sure we distinguish between the two: any of the terms mentioned before is clear to some extent, I think, but also remains a little vague, as is often the case with word meanings. Language tries to make clear, but is bound not to achieve perfection. No?
Sorry, I missed your comment. What I meant: in this topic, as in many others, we have some discrepancies in the semantic fields of terms, and therefore it is always useful to clarify the root concept common to all variations. In this case, it is a sense of self-importance as demonstrated to others, but the subtlety is that this can be done in different ways - in speech, or by actions, or even just by facial expressions - say, "to turn up one's nose", in Russian as well: задрать нос. ...By the way, we also have the verb важничать - roughly "to put on airs" but literally it's derived from "important" - but still it is not that general as it addresses only some moderate manifestations (and sounds somewhat childish) . That's why I had the idea that the aforementioned vulhar term is closer to the core concept - simply because it doesn't provide any (specific) semantics: the f-word there is more like just a placeholder and the essence is in "out" + "self" - i.e." ego promotion". In principle, "showing off" is about the same, just milder and that "show" can narrow the meaning to smth more apparent.
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Sorry, I missed your comment. What I meant: in this topic, as in many others, we have some discrepancies in the semantic fields of terms, and therefore it is always useful to clarify the root concept common to all variations.
Excellent observation, but that is the most difficult part of all. I once thought "farmer" would be a clear root concept, but it was not: there is the "georgios", "earth-worker", and then the cattle "raiser". But that is also what drives me; I think, this contrast and the discrepancies between some underlying concept and further semantic shifts (as striking, funny, curious, etc.).
In this case, it is a sense of self-importance as demonstrated to others, but the subtlety is that this can be done in different ways - in speech, or by actions, or even just by facial expressions - say, "to turn up one's nose", in Russian as well: задрать нос. ...
Again yes, perfect. And that is indeed something intriguing too.
By the way, we also have the verb важничать - roughly "to put on airs" but literally it's derived from "important" - but still it is not that general as it addresses only some moderate manifestations (and sounds somewhat childish) . That's why I had the idea that the aforementioned vulhar term is closer to the core concept - simply because it doesn't provide any (specific) semantics: the f-word there is more like just a placeholder and the essence is in "out" + "self" - i.e." ego promotion". In principle, "showing off" is about the same, just milder and that "show" can narrow the meaning to smth more apparent.
I would like to point out: there is some important difference, I think, between having one's nose in the air (which suggests an immanent/inherent aspect of character), I think (having!) and deliberately trying to impress (which implies doing things in order to arrive at that effect). I hope ;-) you agree...
I would like to point out: there is some important difference, I think, between having one's nose in the air (which suggests an immanent/inherent aspect of character), I think (having!) and deliberately trying to impress (which implies doing things in order to arrive at that effect). I hope ;-) you agree...
Yes, of course. Honestly, as I don't speak English well, I'm not sure about the semantic extent of "showing off", including whether it can be used to refer to the nose situation (indirectly). Either way, the Russian vulgar term mentioned, can - although maybe with some generalization of the situation by the speaker proper.
Nope. Style is about social acceptability of a message itself. Meaning may incorporate social acceptability of things.
With a broader understaning of "meaning", yes. It's just a complex matter - basicaly I meant just that in terms of referred things, the concept of that vulgar term is close to the nuclear meaning as general exposing of self-importance - so, using this word, someone may express dissatisfaction with a girl who refused to go straight to bed with him - meaning, however, not a direct demonstration of superiority by her, but simply that she values herself too much and expects a lot from the relationship (and here everything makes sense, except that guy's indignatiion presenting the positive care about one's own body as a negative self-importance).
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Thanks a lot both of you. i see very interesting things! I have a suggestion though, as for the lay-out. As most of us do not speak one another's languages (except for English and French, maybe Spanish), I'd suggested to write the original verb in italics and the underlying metaphor in bold.

Just by way of example: (but mind you: while reading I have also tried to categorize by venturing upon an interpretation (with one space dividing categories) and even suggesting a conclusion, which might be preposterous as I do not know Finnish...

@Welsh_Sion : I might be back with a similar proposal for Welsh (just BTW: I greatly appreciate your efforts!!!)...
Five years late!
Might I suggest 'Blowing one's own horn' ?
Adding to the orchestra.

"To blow one's own trumpet". [EDITED thanks to @Yendred]

In Welsh:

canu'ch telyn fach eich hun - to sing (= to play) your own little harp.
chwythu'ch corn eich hun - to blow ( = to play) your own horn.
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"To blow one's own trumpet".
In French:
- se jeter des fleurs ("to throw flowers to oneself")
- se tresser des lauriers ("to weave laurels to oneself")
The second one is a reference to the Greek and Roman tradition that the laurel wreath is a symbol of victory.

Both expressions are in the pronominal form, and can also be used non-pronominally:
- jeter des fleurs à quelqu'un
- tresser des lauriers à quelqu'un
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Italian

showing off = grandstanding, posing, showboating.
mettersi in mostra = atteggiarsi, pavonegiarsi, ostentare.

atteggiarsi da = pose as, act like
pavoneggiarsi (vantarsi, darsi arie)= strut, strut around, show off
vantarsi = show off
tirarsela = to boast
talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities..

sbruffone, spaccone = skite (a disagreeable offensive person..)

To strut or strut around means to walk with a proud, confident, and perhaps arrogant gait, often in a showy manner to attract attention. The phrase "show off like some politics" suggests displaying an exaggerated or boastful attitude, particularly one that might be seen in a political figure.. trying to appear important or to impress others...

Polish

showing off = grandstanding, posing, showboating.
popisywanie się = przechwałki, pozowanie, szpanowanie.

flash, lair = szpaner, efekciarz, lanser
skite = szpaner, ważniak, chwalipięta.

strut = puszyć się, pysznić się (czymś)
to boast = chwalić się, przechwalać się.
to boast = chlubić się, szczycić się (np. zabytkami, atrakcjami miejskimi)

Stop boasting, you're not that special.. (Przestań się przechwalać, nie jesteś taki wyjątkowy..)
Poland boasts its beautiful mountains. (Polska szczyci się swoimi pięknymi górami.)

boast = duma, chluba (noun)
I am the boast of my family. (Jestem dumą mojej rodziny.)
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Just wondering as I do not know any Russian: isn't that more like misleading (we have a similar expression in Dutch), not really boasting, showing off? I do see the resemblance but maybe your expression is more pejorative than showing off...
Расхаживать павлином. To peacock. Literally, to strut around like a peacock. Also take note of the Polish post just above.
In reference to birds, English has the simile, 'as proud as a peacock'. The equivalents in Welsh are quite an aviary:

cyn falched â phaun - as proud as a peacock, cyn falched â pheunod y plasau - as proud as the peacocks of the palaces,
cyn falched â'r fwyalchen - as proud as the blackbird, mor falch â'r bioden - as proud as the magpie, mor falch ag alarch ar lyn - as proud as a swan on a lake.

https://geiriaduracademi.org/ 'peacock'
Honestly, I don't quite get why the blackbird is proud. I don't see them often, but in the winter or spring time, they sing here at nights (St. Petersburg) and their songs sound to me more like something sentimental or retrospective. Swans - yes, no question (and I would add geese); magpies - well, okay (although to me they are rather playful than proud).
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