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Exceptional Expressions Posted 04/24/2010 Permanent Link

#32 Show

EVERYDAY EVENTS:

This week’s E4, or Exceptional Expression for Everyday Events focuses on the word show. In the classroom students may be asked to show how they solved a math problem. Teachers may show student how to correctly use a microscope. In both situations, students and teachers are asked to demonstrate how a task is done in a classroom.

EXCEPTIONAL EXPRESSION:

The word show can be used as a verb or as a noun. To show someone their artwork is to let people see it. Show can also be defined as to prove or confirm. For example, a student may be asked to show that they can be trusted to care for the class pet.

A show is a play or act that is performed for people to see. For example, a Broadway show is a play that is performed on and around Broadway Avenue in New York City.

One interesting note is that some synonyms for the verb show are morphological family members or identical to some synonyms for the noun show. For example, to exhibit is often times defined as to show artwork. The noun, exhibition, is defined as a public display of artwork. Exhibition is exhibit with the suffix –ion.

FOLLOW-UPS:

  • How is demonstrating a concept different from putting your work on display?
  • What does it mean to exhibit certain behaviors or traits?
  • How might students who like to write showcase their talent?

THE SPANISH CONNECTIONS:

The word show comes from the Middle English sheuen that means to look at, display. From the definition of the Middle English word sheuen, we see that the original meaning for show was a verb that over time developed the noun usage of the word. The Spanish word for to show is mostrar. Although, show and mostrar are not cognates, some synonyms for show are cognates.

WORD CHANGES:

1) IDIOMS:

  • Show off
  • The show must go on
  • Show and tell
  • Show me the light/way
  • Show the world
  • Dog and pony show
  • No show
  • Show you the door
  • Show your true colors
  • Show of good faith
  • Steal the show

2) COMMON PHRASES:

  • TV/radio/game show
  • Show case
  • Show up
  • Show business

Click here to download the printable version of E4: Show.

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