Definition

1. Noun:
   • A featured article of merchandise sold at a loss to attract customers: A product or item offered at a very low price, often below cost, to entice people into a store or business.
   • An entertainer who attracts large audiences: A performer, speaker, or personality whose presence is the primary reason people attend an event, show, or venue.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (as a featured merchandise):

  • The supermarket used milk as a drawing card to get more shoppers into the store.
  • The $1 coffee was the store's main drawing card.

• Noun (as an entertainer or attraction):

  • The famous comedian was the drawing card for the charity gala.
  • The new dinosaur exhibit is the museum's biggest drawing card this summer.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a drawing card for": To be the primary attraction that brings people to a specific place or event.
  • Her reputation as a brilliant speaker made her a drawing card for the conference.

Variants and Related Words

• Draw (verb): To attract or pull in. The noun "draw" can be a synonym for "drawing card" in the context of an attraction.
  • The new movie is expected to be a big draw at the box office.
• Headliner (noun): A term often used in entertainment for the main, most advertised performer, similar to a "drawing card."
  • The band was the headliner for the three-day music festival.

Synonyms

• Attraction: Something that draws interest or attention.
• Lure: Something used to attract or entice.
• Crowd-puller: (Informal) A person or thing that attracts a large number of people.
• Loss leader: A specific business term for the merchandise sense of a drawing card.

Idioms and Phrases

• "The main draw": A common phrase meaning the primary attraction.
  • While the entire fair was fun, the petting zoo was the main draw for families.

Noun

1. a featured article of merchandise sold at a loss in order to draw customers
2. an entertainer who attracts large audiences
   • he was the biggest drawing card they had