window dressing
Noun
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Noun
window dressing (uncountable)
- The decorative display of retail merchandise in store windows; the goods and trimmings used in such a display.
- 1897, S. R. Crockett, The Surprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion with Those of General Napoleon Smith, New York: Frederick A. Stokes, Chapter 33, p. 252,
- The linen-draper at the corner under the town clock was divided between keeping an eye on his apprentices to see that they did not spar with yard sticks, and mentally criticising the ludicrous and meretricious window-dressing of his next-door neighbour.
- 1938, Graham Greene, Brighton Rock, Vintage, 2002, Chapter 3,
- […] a shop where a shingle could be had for two shillings in the same building as a coffin-maker’s who worked in oak, elm or lead: no window-dressing but one child’s coffin dusty with disuse and the list of hairdressing prices.
- 1991, Winn Schwartau, Terminal Compromise, Seminole, Florida: Inter.Pact, Chapter 18,
- On Sundays when the Red Light District is closed until 6 P.M., many Dutch families use the window dressings as the textbook for their children’s sex education.
- 1897, S. R. Crockett, The Surprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion with Those of General Napoleon Smith, New York: Frederick A. Stokes, Chapter 33, p. 252,
- (uncountable) The process, skill or task of creating such a display.
- 1905, H. G. Wells, Kipps, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 2, p. 46,
- Such days as there was no window-dressing there was a mighty carrying and lifting of blocks and bales of goods into piles and stacks.
- 1921, Joseph C. Lincoln, Galusha the Magnificent, New York: D. Appleton & Co., Chapter 15, p. 252,
- Down in the village Ras Beebe began his twice-a-year window dressing, removing the caps, candy, sweaters, oil heaters, patent medicines and mittens to substitute bathing suits, candy, straw hats, toy shovels, patent medicines and caps.
- 1905, H. G. Wells, Kipps, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 2, p. 46,
- (idiomatic, uncountable) A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.
- These latest modifications are mere window dressing; the same problems remain.
- (decorative display) shop window
- (idiomatic) eyewash
- Russian: очковтирательство
This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.003