Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - show

~1 v past tense showed past participle shown 1 »PROVE« to provide facts or information that make it clear that something is true or that something exists  (show (that))  (The latest poll clearly shows that most voters are unaware of this. | As her record plainly shows, Wyler is one of the world's all-time great players. | show how/what)  (Her experience shows how easily young women can get into trouble abroad. | show sth)  (Recent events in Somalia show the futility of war. | Statistics show a marked rise in nitrogen levels at this point. | show sb/sth to be formal)  (He later showed himself to be an excellent chess player. | it just shows/it just goes to show spoken (=when a bad experience you have been talking about proves something))  (And he took everything she had. It just goes to show, you should never trust a stranger.) 2 »SHOW YOUR FEELINGS ETC« to let your feelings, attitudes, or personal qualities be clearly seen in the way you behave, the way you look etc  (She's never shown much interest in my work. | I think it shows great determination on her part. | He showed his agreement by a slight nod. | show how/what etc)  (I was determined not to show how upset I was.) 3 »INFORMATION/MEASUREMENTS ETC« T not usually in progressive) a) if a picture, map etc shows something, you can see it on the picture, map etc  (This diagram shows the correct position of the gear lever. | a useful chart showing all the flights coming into and out of Paris) b) if a clock or other measuring instrument shows a time, a number etc, you can see that time etc on it  (The victim's watch showed five minutes past two.) 4 »LET SB SEE« to let someone see something, for example by holding it out so that they can look at it  (show sb sth)  (Jackie showed the official her passport. | show sth to sb)  (Show your ticket to the man at the entrance. | show sth)  (All passes must be shown on entering the building.) 5 »TELL/EXPLAIN STH« a) to tell someone how to do something, by explaining it to them, often by doing it yourself so that they can see you  (show sb how to do sth)  (I showed him how to work the coffee machine. | show sb sth)  (Show her the right way to do it.) b) to tell someone where a place or thing is, for example by pointing to it  (show sb sth)  (I'll show you the exact spot where it happened. | show sb where)  (Could you show me where I can put my coat?) 6 »GUIDE SB« T always + adv/prep to go with someone and guide them to a place  (show sb to/in/out/around)  (Goodbye, Mrs Davies. My secretary will show you out. (=out of the office or building) | show sb sth)  (Come on out, and I'll show you the garden)  (- see lead1) 7 »CAN BE SEEN« a) if something shows it is easy to see  (His happiness showed in his face. | Don't worry about that tiny stain; it won't show.) b) if material shows dirt or a mark, it is easy to see the dirt or mark on it  (That light jacket will show the slightest crease.) 8 »FILM« a) if a film is showing at a cinema, you can see it there b) if a cinema shows a film, it makes it available for people to see  (The local movie theater is showing Tom Cruise's latest picture.)  (- see also showing) 9 have something/nothing etc to show for if you have something to show for your efforts, hard work etc, you have achieved something as a result of them  (Is that all you've got to show for a whole week's work?) 10 show a profit/loss if a company shows a profit or loss, it makes a financial profit or loss 11 show your hand to make your true power or intentions clear, especially after you have been keeping them secret  (She needed to be cautious, and not show her hand too soon.) 12 show your face if you will not show your face somewhere, you will not go there because you have a good reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed about being there  (He wouldn't dare show his face in here after the way he behaved last week!) 13 »ART/PICTURES« T often passive to put a collection of paintings or other works of art in one place so that people can come and see them  (Her recent sculptures are being shown at the Hayward Gallery.) 14 »ANIMAL« to put an animal into a competition with other animals 15 »ARRIVE« informal, especially AmE to arrive at the place where someone is waiting for you; show up  (I came to meet Hank, but he never showed.) 16 ... and it shows spoken used to say that something, especially something bad, is very clear to see  ("I did the whole report in only two days!" "And it shows!") 17 I'll show him/them etc spoken used to say that you will prove to someone that you are better, more effective etc than they think you are  (They're convinced I'm going to fail, but I'll show them!) 18 show sb in a good/bad etc light if an action shows you in a good or bad light, it makes people have a good or bad opinion about you  (a decision which does not show Roosevelt in a particularly favourable light) 19 show sb the door to make it clear that someone is not welcome and should leave 20 show sb who's boss informal to prove to someone who is threatening your authority that you are more powerful than they are  (Don't let your horse pull his head down - show him who's boss.) 21 show the way if you show the way for other people, you do something new that others then try to copy  (In the 70s Panderm showed the way with its revolutionary new techniques.) 22 show a leg! BrE spoken used to tell someone to get out of bed 23 show a clean pair of heels BrE BrE old-fashioned informal to run away very fast show sb around (sth) phr v to go around a place with someone when they first arrive there, to show them what is interesting, useful etc  (Pat will show you around the building so you can meet everyone. | We were shown around by an elderly guide.) show off phr v 1 to try to impress people and make them admire your abilities, achievements, or possessions  (Pay no attention to Susan - she's just showing off.) 2 T show something off) to show something to a lot of people because you are very proud of it  (Peter was keen to show off his new car.) 3 T show something off) if one thing shows off something else, it makes the other thing look especially attractive  (The white dress showed off her dark skin beautifully.) show sb over sth phr v especially BrE to guide someone through an interesting building or a house that is for sale  (Our company chairman showed the Prime Minister over the new plant.) show sb round (sth) phr v BrE to show around show up phr v 1 informal to arrive, especially at the place where someone is waiting for you  (I was almost asleep when Chris finally showed up.) 2 T show something up) to make it possible to see or notice something that was not clear before  (The sunlight showed up the cracks in the wall. | These riots show up the deficiencies in police training.) 3 to be easy to see or notice  (The subtitles won't show up against such a light background. | A lot of bugs showed up when I ran the program.) 4 T show someone up) to make someone feel embarrassed by behaving in a stupid or unacceptable way when you are with them  (Why must you always show me up at these occasions?) ~2 n 1 »PERFORMANCE« an entertaining performance, especially one that includes singing, dancing, or jokes  (She is appearing in a show on Broadway. | Cowan's one-man show opens on April 16th)  (- see also floor show) 2 »TV/RADIO« a programme on television or on the radio  (She's been in a lot of popular TV shows. | comedy shows | chat/talk show (=a show on which well-known people talk about their lives, work etc) | game show (=a show in which people play games for prizes) | quiz show (=a show in which people compete to answer questions)) 3 »A COLLECTION OF THINGS« an occasion when a lot of similar things are brought together in one place so that people can come and look at them, or so that they can compete against each other; exhibition  (flower/dog etc show)  (The annual pet show takes place in August. | Are you entering your pony in the show? | fashion/air etc show)  (We have a stand at the 1996 travel show. | exhibits at the Motor Show | hold/put on/stage a show)  (The gallery is holding a major show of her work next month.) 4 be on show to be shown to the public  (The painting will be on show until the end of the month. | Frink's works will go on show next week.) 5 »FEELINGS/QUALITIES« a show of something that shows what something is like, how someone feels etc; display of  (a little show of bad temper | a show of strength/force)  (Their army staged a big military parade as a show of strength.) 6 something you do to pretend to other people that something is true; pretence + of  ("Oh, no. I don't mind," she said, with a show of cheerfulness.) make a show of/put on a show of  (I made a show of interest, but I didn't really care what happened. | for show)  (We went through a marriage ceremony, but it was all for show, to convince the authorities.) 7 »EVENT/SITUATION« informal a place or situation where something is being done or organized  (run the show (=be in charge of something))  (Who's running this show, you or me?) 8 put up a good/poor etc show informal to perform, play etc well or badly  (Our team put up a pretty good show, but we lost in the end.) 9 let's get this show on the road spoken used to tell people it is time to start working or start a journey 10 (jolly) good show BrE old-fashioned spoken used to express your approval of something  (- see also steal the show steal1 (3)) ~3 adj show-house/-flat BrE a house or apartment that has been built and filled with furniture to show buyers what similar new houses or apartments look like