peacockery
Definition
- Noun:
- Vain or ostentatious behavior: "peacockery" refers to conduct characterized by excessive pride, showiness, or a desire to display oneself in a flamboyant manner, akin to the strutting of a peacock.
Usage Examples
- (His behavior was vain and showy.)
- (His ostentatious display of self-importance was irritating.)
- (She regarded his showy conduct as a vain effort to gain admiration.)
Advanced Usage
- "a display of peacockery": an instance of showy or proud behavior.
- The fashion show was a grand display of peacockery. (The event showcased flamboyant and self-glorifying attitudes.)
Variants and Related Words
- Peacock (n): a large bird known for its colorful tail feathers, often used metaphorically for a vain person.
- He’s such a peacock, always preening in front of the mirror. (He is a vain person who shows off.)
- Peacockish (adj): resembling or characteristic of a peacock; vain or showy.
- Her peacockish attire drew everyone’s attention. (Her clothes were flamboyant and attention-seeking.)
Synonyms
- Vanity: excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements.
- Ostentation: a showy display intended to impress.
- Swagger: a proud, confident manner often seen as arrogant.
Related Idioms
- Strut like a peacock: to walk or behave in a proud, showy way.
- He strutted like a peacock after winning the award. (He walked with exaggerated pride and self-importance.)
- Peacock’s pride: a phrase describing excessive vanity or self-glorification.
- Her peacock’s pride made her unpopular among friends. (Her extreme vanity alienated others.)