subs. (colloquial).—1. An entertainment; a spectacle (as the LORD MAYOR’S SHOW); (2) one’s business: cf. SHOP; and (3) a piece of work. Also SHOW-BOX (theatrical) = a theatre.
1530. TYNDALE, Works [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 427. He loves SHEW as a synonym for appearance and spectacle].
1588–93. TARLETON, Jests (1844), 71 [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 12. The noun SHEW … means a pageant].
1592. SHAKESPEARE, Midsummer Night’s Dream, v. 1.
| The actors are at hand; and by their SHOW, | |
| You shall know all that you are like to know. |
1613. DRAYTON, Poly-Olbion, xv. By this, the wedding ends, and brake up all the SHOW.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 27.
| One of Georgy’s bright ogles was put | |
| On the bankruptcy list, with its shop-windows shut; | |
| While the other soon made quite as tag-rag a SHOW. |
1886. BESANT, Children of Gibeon, I. vi. We ain’t a SHOW. Lotty ain’t a clown; I ain’t a jumping-horse.
1888. HAGGARD, Mr. Meeson’s Will [Illustrated London News, Summer No., 28, 3]. Mr. John Short … asked him the same question, explaining that their presence was necessary to the SHOW.
1891. J. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 65. I would have stopped the SHOW.
1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘The Widow’s Party.’
| What was the end of all the SHOW, | |
| Johnnie, Johnnie? |
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xx. When the SHOW was shut, I … sits down to my toke and pipe.
1900. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 20, 2. There goes Amy Lester…. Just closed with ‘The Face in the Lamplight.’ That’s the third SHOW she’s queered this season.
4. (colloquial).—A chance; a turn; an opportunity.
c. 1537–50. The Book in Meeter of Robin Conscience [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, III. 239].
| Bvt and I liue another yeer, I will haue a better SHOWE; | |
| I will not goe thvs slvttishly, I trowe. |
1886. BESANT, Children of Gibeon, II. xiv. Many young men are ardently desirous of distinction or even notoriety; they will stoop to tomfool tricks if they cannot get a SHOW by any other way.
1887. Our American Cousins, 267. Do you think there’s any—any—any SHOW for me?
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xii. If I could only have got his SHOW three turns nightly at fifteen pounds a turn!
1896. LILLARD, Poker Stories, 147. They told the management to trot out his wicker demijohn and give the sagebrushers a SHOW.
1901. Troddles & Us, 11. You stick yourself down in the only decent chair … you don’t give a fellow a SHOW.
3. (women’s: conventional).—The first signs of periodicity or parturition.
PHRASES AND COLLOQUIALISMS.—TO SHOW AWAY (or OFF) = to give oneself airs: hence SHOWING OFF = making the most of oneself; TO SHOW A LEG (nautical) = (1) to turn out; and (2) see LEG; TO SHOW UP = (1) to make an appearance (also TO SHOW ONESELF), and (2) to expose: also as subs. in both senses; TO SHOW THE DOOR (or THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR) = to dismiss without ceremony; TO BOSS THE SHOW = to manage; TO SHOW ONE LONDON = (school) to hold one by the heels upside down; TO SEE LONDON = to hang by the heels: as from a rail, trapeze; TO GIVE THE SHOW AWAY = to blab; &c. Also see AGILITY; COLD SHOULDER; ELEPHANT; HEELS; LEG; TEETH; WATER; WHITE FEATHER.
1554. TYTLER, Edward VI. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, I. 538. Charles V. SHOWS HIMSELF at a feast].
1772. T. HULL, Genuine Letters from a Gentlewoman to a young Lady, her Pupil, II. 45. Never give yourself Airs: never press TO SHEW AWAY, as they call it.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 12. I boarded her [a kitchen-maid] with so little circumspection that Don Rodrigo … twitted me with my low taste; and … SHOWED the goddess of my devotions THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR.
1811. L. M. HAWKINS, The Countess and Gertrude [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, ii. 204. Certain phrases are marked to show that they are new; as … SHEW HIMSELF (at a party).]
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 26.
| Or could old Nap himself, in his glory, have wish’d | |
| To SHOW UP a fat Gemman more handsomely DISH’D? |
1830. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), An Essay on … Samuel Foote [Works], lxxix. How far he was justified in SHOWING UP his friend Macklin may admit of question.
1848. THACKERAY, The Book of Snobs, xi. Instead of SHOWING UP the parsons, are we indulging in maudlin praises of that monstrous black-coated race.
1870. HUXLEY, Lay Sermons, 30. It would be unprofitable to spend more time … in SHEWING UP the knots in the ravelled skeins of our neighbours.
1883. W. BLACK, Yolande, i. Don’t you think it prudent of me to SHOW UP as often as I can in the House … so that my good friends in Slagpool mayn’t begin to grumble about my being away so frequently?
1886. Times, 29 March. Certain persons in high stations of life would be SHOWN UP.
1891. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, 287. Both got upon their knees to her; and the upshot of the matter was that she SHOWED both of them THE DOOR.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, vi. She wants yer TO SHOW UP at a sort o’ bun-struggle in ’er room.
1900. DELANNOY, “£19,000,” xxx. I didn’t want to GIVE THE SHOW AWAY.
1900. R. H. SAVAGE, Brought to Bay, i. I’m all right, if I SHOW UP at eleven. Ibid., Looks as if he could handle a reapier, or SHOW UP well in what these queer fellows call ‘Le Sport!’
