showy
adjUK /ˈʃəʊ.i/ · US /ˈʃoʊ.i/
Etymology From show (noun) + -y.
1
Derogatory, Sometimes Calling attention; flashy; standing out to the eye.
2
Making a striking or aesthetically pleasing display.
- showy flowers
3
Informal, Of a literary work Inclined to showing (by conveying an impression so that events are described in the narrative), instead of telling (by explicitly stating facts).
- I think my problem with it is that it's a) a little "telly" not "showy" in comparison to the rest […]1999 November 21, sophie, “Squealer : first revision”, in alt.arts.poetry.comments (Usenet):
- There's a way to make this more showy and less telly. It's like you're in a hurry to get on with the rest of the story.2003 September 19, Patrick Null, “Failed Sept Challenge? (1409 words)”, in alt.fiction.original (Usenet):
3 more examples
- story is too, too telly; need at least 3 showy scenes to improve showing:telling ratio2009 May 18, @kimmcgowan, Twitter, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024:
- Six of Crows is very telly and little showy. You are constantly getting info dumps and mini-flashbacks to the characters past.2016 February 12, Kelly, “Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo”, in Diva Booknerd, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024:
- The ending felt rushed to me, and I wish it would have been more showy and less telly.2024 July 1, pinkjamie, “Well...”, in BookishFirst, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024:
- Synonyms
- gaudy
- Derived terms
- nonshowy, showily, showiness, showy goatsbeard, showy mistletoe, showy orchis, showy sundew, unshowy
- Hyponyms
- slutty