Definition

Verb: - To show off excessively or pretentiously: To make an exaggerated display of one's (often limited) abilities, knowledge, or possessions in a way that is considered annoying, childish, or disproportionate to one's actual capabilities.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ mới học được vài từ đã ti toe khắp nơi. (The child just learned a few words and is showing off everywhere.)
  • Anh ta chẳng biết gì nhiều nhưng lúc nào cũng ti toe về kiến thức của mình. (He doesn't know much, but he's always pretentiously showing off his knowledge.)
  • Mới có chiếc điện thoại mới, nó đã ti toe với cả lớp. (He just got a new phone and showed it off excessively to the whole class.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often carries a strong connotation of immaturity, shallowness, or irritating boastfulness about trivial things. It is frequently used to criticize someone whose showing off is seen as unwarranted or foolish.

Variants and Related Words

• Khoe khoang (v): to boast, to brag. (This is a more general term for showing off, while implies a more frivolous, excessive, and annoying manner.)
• Làm màu (v, colloquial): to put on airs, to act in a showy manner.

Synonyms

• To show off
• To boast pretentiously
• To flaunt (in a childish or annoying way)

Related Idioms

• While itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, it is used in descriptive phrases that criticize behavior.
  • Ti toe vài ba câu tiếng Anh: to show off by speaking a few pretentious phrases of English.

verb

1. to show off excessively