Definition

Noun: A sandwich board is a type of portable signboard consisting of two connected panels. These panels are hinged at the top and are designed to hang over a person's shoulders, with one panel resting on the chest and the other on the back. Its primary function is to display advertisements or messages as the wearer walks in public areas.

Usage

Sandwich boards are used for mobile, human-carried advertising. A person, often called a "sign walker" or "human billboard," wears the board to promote a business, event, or cause in high-foot-traffic locations like city sidewalks, outside stores, or at events.

Examples

• The new cafe hired someone to wear a sandwich board on the main street to attract customers.
• Protesters used sandwich boards to convey their messages during the peaceful march.
• The man in the sandwich board was advertising a big sale at the electronics store.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe being caught between two opposing forces or opinions, similar to the idiom "caught in the middle," though this is less common than the literal meaning.
  • Example: "In the debate between the two departments, the manager felt like a human sandwich board."

Variants and Related Words

• Sandwich man (noun, dated): A person, typically a man, who wears a sandwich board. This term is less common today.
• A-board or A-frame sign (noun): A freestanding, hinged sign shaped like an 'A' that is placed on the ground, often outside a shop. It is related in function (sidewalk advertising) but is not worn.

Synonyms

• Human billboard
• Portable sign
• Hinged signboard

Related Idioms

• While not a direct idiom, the concept contributes to the common phrase "walking advertisement," which can refer to someone wearing a sandwich board or, more broadly, to someone who enthusiastically promotes something through their actions or appearance.

Noun

1. signboard consisting of two hinged boards that hang front and back from the shoulders of a walker and are used to display advertisements