FLASHINESS, FLASHY
ADJECTIVES
► BUTTERFLY flashy, gaudy, tasteless; said of clothes → 1900s sl.
► DAMN-MY-EYES flashy; ostentatious → 1849 US nautical sl.
► DANDY flashy, showy; fine, gay → 1813
► DAY-GLO cheaply flashy, blatantly gaudy or tawdry; vulgarly colourful and bright → 1950s Amer. sl.
► FANTOOSH flashy, showy, overdressed, over-ornamented; ultra-fashionable → 1920 Sc.
► FLARY flashy, dazzling, gaudy → 1841
► FLOOZY of a woman’s appearance or clothing: showy, stylish, flashy → 1911 Amer. dial.
► FLOSSY showy, flashy; saucy, impertinent → 1889 Amer. dial.
► HELL’S-A-POPPIN’ ► HELLZAPOPPIN’ flashy, ostentatious → 1945 colloq., orig. US
► HOTCHA vivacious, attractive, desirable; flashy, showy → 1924 sl., chiefly US
► HOT-DOG of outstanding quality or merit; skilful; flashy, ostentatious → 1896 US sl.
► JACK flashy, ostentatious → 1980s sl.
► KIDDY flashy, well-dressed, fashionable → L18 sl.
► LEERY flashy, showy of dress and manners → c1850 sl.
► LIKE A DOG’S DINNER flashy, ostentatious, or over-elaborate; said of dress, etc. → 1927 colloq.
► MACKED OUT flashily dressed; said of a man → 1933 Amer. sl.
► NAUGHTY flashy, vulgarly over-dressed → 1864 sl.
► NEW JACK flashy, superficial, meretricious → 1980s African-American sl.
► PISS-ELEGANT cheaply flashy or showy in dress or appearance → 1941 sl.
► SLANGY flashy or pretentious → c1850 sl.
► SPORTY flashy, showy → 1885 colloq.
► TIGERISH flashy, loud → 1831
► TINHORN superficially flashy, second-rate, inferior → L19 sl.
► TINSELLED having a flashy superficial splendour without intrinsic value → 1651
► TIZZY of an object: flashy but cheaply manufactured → 1930s Aust. sl.
► VIEWY flashy, showy, attractive → E19 sl.
► ZAZZY flashy, characterized by outward show → 1961 sl., chiefly US
ADVERBS
► LIKE A DOG’S DINNER in an ostentatiously flashy or smart manner → 1927 colloq.
NOUNS
► DOG flashiness; boastful or pretentious manner or attitude → 1871 sl., orig. US
► DOG’S DINNER flashy or over-elaborate dress or adornment → 1996 sl.
► PARAFFIN a flashy, smart appearance, esp. in dress → 1935 Sc. sl.
► PARAFFINELLY ► PARAPHERNALLY a flashy turn-out, an overdressed appearance → c1900 Sc.
NOUNS – PERSON
► BUTTERFLY a flashy, overdressed person → 20C US sl.
► GLITTERBAG a flashy female given to shiny clothes, hair piled high with hairspray, and gum chewing → 20C teen & high school sl.
► HOT DOG a flashy, ostentatiously successful person; a show-off → 1894 sl., orig. US
► JAY a flashy, showy, or ostentatious woman → 1598
► KIDDY a flashy young man who is usually a rake or a thief → 1778 Amer. sl., orig. criminals’ usage
► LAIR ► LARE a male who dresses flashily or shows off → 1923 Aust. sl.
► SPORT a flashy person, one who wears showy clothes, affects smart manners, pursues pleasurable pastimes, or the like → 1923 colloq.
► TINHORN a superficially flashy, contemptible person → 1887 US sl.
► TWO-BOB LAIR a man dressed in a flashy, cheap manner → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► ZOOT-SUITER a foolish, arrogant, vulgar young man esp. when his image is boosted by flashy clothes → 1960 US sl., derogatory
PHRASES
► THERE’S A DEAL OF GLASS ABOUT applied to a flashy person or a showy thing → 1880s
VERBS
► PUT ON THE DOG to make a flashy or stylish display; to assume pretentious airs → 1865 colloq.
Lexicophilia 