1811. Moore, Tom Crib, 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 [Ill. Lon. News, Summer No., 28, 3]. Mr. John Short . . . asked him the same question, explaining that their presence was necessary to the show.
1891. 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. Whiteing, John St., 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. Robin Conscience [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poetry, 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. Emerson, 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 and Us, ii. 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, Ed. VI. [Oliphant New Eng. i. 538. Charles V. shows himself at a feast].
. . . . T. Hall, Genuine Letters, 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. Hawkins, Countess and Gertrude [Oliphant, New Eng. ii. 204. Certain phrases are marked to show that they are new; as . . . shew himself (at a party).]
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, 26. . . . Could old Nap himself, in his glory, have wish'd To show up a fat Gemman more handsomely dish'd?
1830. Jon. Bee, Samuel Foote, lxxix. How far he was justified in showing up his friend Macklin may admit of question.
1848. Thackeray, Snobs, xi. Instead of showing up the parsons, are we indulging in maudlin praises of that monstrous black-coated race.
