show pony

British

noun

informal a person who tries to be the centre of attention; show-off

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But for all the fun it is, this show pony might as well be on a merry-go-round.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

A neglected horse which was abandoned and "left to die" on the side of a road in the Republic of Ireland is now a prize-winning show pony.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2023

"Selena + Chef" is an accessible work about process; "Cooking with Paris" is a show pony when famous guests gush over how influential Hilton used to be while she overuses edible glitter.

From Salon • Nov. 17, 2021

“I’m aware that I’m a bit of a show pony, but it’s within a unique situation,” says Day.

From The Guardian • Sep. 17, 2020

I ain’t in the mood to play show pony, so I file into the building with the other girls, heading back to the armory to secure our weapons.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023