posturing
Definition
- Noun:
- Adopting a vain or conceited posture: The act of behaving or speaking in an artificial or exaggerated way to impress others or to create a specific image. It implies a lack of sincerity and an intention to deceive or appear more important than one is.
Usage
- Noun:
- His speech was full of political posturing, with little substance.
- The artist rejected the posturing of the art world and focused on genuine expression.
Advanced Usage
"Empty posturing": Behavior or speech that is entirely for show, with no real intention or action behind it.
- The negotiations were stalled by empty posturing from both sides.
"A posture of...": While "posture" alone can mean a physical stance or a policy position, "posturing" specifically refers to the act of adopting such a stance in an insincere way.
- His posturing as an expert was quickly exposed when he couldn't answer basic questions.
Variants and Related Words
Posture (noun/verb): As a noun, it can mean a physical position or a mental/emotional attitude. As a verb, it means to adopt a physical pose or, often critically, to adopt an affected attitude.
- Noun: Good posture is important for back health.
- Verb: He tends to posture in front of the camera.
Posturer (noun): A person who postures; someone who behaves affectedly.
Synonyms
- Affectation: Artificial behavior adopted to impress.
- Pose: A pretended or affected attitude.
- Pretense: An attempt to make something false appear true.
- Theatricality: Exaggerated and dramatic behavior.
Related Phrases
- Strike a pose: To position one's body in a particular, often artificial, way.
- Put on airs: To act in a way that is intended to make one seem superior.
Related Idioms
- All hat and no cattle: (Informal, chiefly US) Describing someone who boasts or postures but has no real substance or ability.
- The new manager is all hat and no cattle; he talks big but doesn't deliver.
Noun
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adopting a vain conceited posture
