show and tell

American  

noun

1. an activity for young children, especially in school, in which each participant produces an object of unusual interest and tells something about it.

2. Facetious. any informative presentation or demonstration, as to introduce a new product or divulge and explain a special plan.

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show and tell Idioms  

1. A public presentation or display, as in It was a terrible bore, what with their show and tell of every last detail about their trip around the world. This expression originated in the 1940s to describe a learning exercise for young children, in which each child in a group brings some object to show the others and talks about it.

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Other Word Forms

• show-and-tell adjective
• show-and-teller noun

Etymology

Origin of show and tell

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

“From a tactical level, the psyop mission is extremely hard to show and tell,” said Lt.

From Seattle Times

For years, the volume — a 19th-century French treatise on the human soul — was brought out for show and tell, and sometimes, according to library lore, used to haze new employees.

From New York Times

But I will not allow people to come on my show and tell blatant lies if I am in that position.

From Los Angeles Times

But I will not allow people to come on my show and tell blatant lies.

From Los Angeles Times

Seventeen 2023 graduates show and tell us how they feel about entering the work force.

From New York Times