noun
popinjay
PAH-puhn-jay/ˈpɑpənˌdʒeɪ/
A vain person who showily seeks attention.
The showy popinjay theatrically waters the plastic flower while ignoring the listener's correction.
Etymology
Old French papegai meant “parrot.” Applied to people, the bird image shifted from praise for beauty and rarity to mockery of vanity and talkativeness.
More examples
- That popinjay spends every meeting boasting about his achievements.
- She dismisses him as a popinjay who cares only about being admired.
- The reception is full of popinjays competing to be noticed.
Forms
popinjay · popinjays
Similar words
- fop
- Emphasizes a man's excessive concern with fashionable clothing.
- braggart
- Emphasizes boastful talk rather than showy appearance or behavior.
- show-off
- Broader and more everyday; includes attention-seeking displays of skill.