See window dressing in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
Download JSON data for window dressing meaning in English (7.9kB)
{
"forms": [
{
"form": "window dressings",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "~"
},
"expansion": "window dressing (countable and uncountable, plural window dressings)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "60 19 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1897, S. R. Crockett, chapter 33, in The Surprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion with Those of General Napoleon Smith, New York: Frederick A. Stokes, page 252",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1938, Graham Greene, chapter 3, in Brighton Rock, Vintage, published 2002",
"text": "[…] 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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1991, Winn Schwartau, chapter 18, in Terminal Compromise, Seminole, Florida: Inter.Pact",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"The decorative display of retail merchandise in store windows; the goods and trimmings used in such a display."
],
"id": "en-window_dressing-en-noun-iSCcQBXM",
"links": [
[
"decorative",
"decorative"
],
[
"display",
"display"
],
[
"retail",
"retail"
],
[
"merchandise",
"merchandise"
],
[
"store",
"store"
],
[
"window",
"window"
],
[
"goods",
"goods"
],
[
"trimming",
"trimming"
]
],
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "window dresser"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "make-believe"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "perfunctory"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "pretence"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "sham"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "token"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "shop window"
},
{
"_dis1": "100 0 0",
"word": "window-dressing"
}
],
"tags": [
"countable",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1905, H. G. Wells, Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 2, p. 46",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1921, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 15, in Galusha the Magnificent, New York: D. Appleton & Co., page 252",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"The process, skill or task of creating such a display."
],
"id": "en-window_dressing-en-noun-tk3FgUDj",
"raw_glosses": [
"(uncountable) The process, skill or task of creating such a display."
],
"tags": [
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"text": "These latest modifications are mere window dressing; the same problems remain.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "2011 December 14, Angelique Chrisafis, “Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism”, in Guardian",
"text": "Meanwhile, the left is deliberately running more ethnically diverse candidates in the parliamentary elections next year, claiming Sarkozy's one-time \"rainbow\" cabinet of racially diverse women had turned out to be window dressing.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2022 August 22, Alexander Clapp, “The Rot at the Heart of Greece Is Now Clear for Everyone to See”, in The New York Times, →ISSN",
"text": "The corruption and conflicts of interests Mr. Mitsotakis pledged to root out not only still exist but also, in many respects, appear to have concentrated and deepened. Far from having been overhauled, the Greek state has received only a cosmetic makeover, a managerial window dressing.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2023 May 31, 'Industry Insider', “Dft calls time on TPE”, in RAIL, number 984, page 68",
"text": "In all likelihood, the re-tendering promise will be a window dressing exercise to appease a number of Conservative MPs who are at odds with an approach that extends nationalisation.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only."
],
"id": "en-window_dressing-en-noun-LOtFe5Rr",
"links": [
[
"creating",
"creating"
],
[
"deceptively",
"deceptively"
],
[
"favourable",
"favourable"
],
[
"impression",
"impression"
],
[
"appearance",
"appearance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(figurative, uncountable) A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "eyewash"
}
],
"tags": [
"figuratively",
"uncountable"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Augenwischerei"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Schönfärberei"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "porhintés"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "ámítás"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kirakat"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "szemfényvesztés"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kirakatpolitika"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kozmetikázás"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "szépítés"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kendőzés"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "meghamisítás"
},
{
"_dis1": "2 4 94",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "očkovtiratelʹstvo",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "очковтирательство"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"audio": "En-au-window dressing.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b4/En-au-window_dressing.ogg/En-au-window_dressing.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/En-au-window_dressing.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"word": "window dressing"
}
{
"categories": [
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English multiword terms",
"English nouns",
"English terms with audio links",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"forms": [
{
"form": "window dressings",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "~"
},
"expansion": "window dressing (countable and uncountable, plural window dressings)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"related": [
{
"word": "window dresser"
},
{
"word": "make-believe"
},
{
"word": "perfunctory"
},
{
"word": "pretence"
},
{
"word": "sham"
},
{
"word": "token"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1897, S. R. Crockett, chapter 33, in The Surprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion with Those of General Napoleon Smith, New York: Frederick A. Stokes, page 252",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1938, Graham Greene, chapter 3, in Brighton Rock, Vintage, published 2002",
"text": "[…] 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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1991, Winn Schwartau, chapter 18, in Terminal Compromise, Seminole, Florida: Inter.Pact",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"The decorative display of retail merchandise in store windows; the goods and trimmings used in such a display."
],
"links": [
[
"decorative",
"decorative"
],
[
"display",
"display"
],
[
"retail",
"retail"
],
[
"merchandise",
"merchandise"
],
[
"store",
"store"
],
[
"window",
"window"
],
[
"goods",
"goods"
],
[
"trimming",
"trimming"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "shop window"
}
],
"tags": [
"countable",
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English uncountable nouns",
"Quotation templates to be cleaned"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "1905, H. G. Wells, Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, New York: Scribner, Book I, Chapter 2, p. 46",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "1921, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 15, in Galusha the Magnificent, New York: D. Appleton & Co., page 252",
"text": "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.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"The process, skill or task of creating such a display."
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(uncountable) The process, skill or task of creating such a display."
],
"tags": [
"uncountable"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples",
"English uncountable nouns"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "These latest modifications are mere window dressing; the same problems remain.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "2011 December 14, Angelique Chrisafis, “Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism”, in Guardian",
"text": "Meanwhile, the left is deliberately running more ethnically diverse candidates in the parliamentary elections next year, claiming Sarkozy's one-time \"rainbow\" cabinet of racially diverse women had turned out to be window dressing.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2022 August 22, Alexander Clapp, “The Rot at the Heart of Greece Is Now Clear for Everyone to See”, in The New York Times, →ISSN",
"text": "The corruption and conflicts of interests Mr. Mitsotakis pledged to root out not only still exist but also, in many respects, appear to have concentrated and deepened. Far from having been overhauled, the Greek state has received only a cosmetic makeover, a managerial window dressing.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"ref": "2023 May 31, 'Industry Insider', “Dft calls time on TPE”, in RAIL, number 984, page 68",
"text": "In all likelihood, the re-tendering promise will be a window dressing exercise to appease a number of Conservative MPs who are at odds with an approach that extends nationalisation.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only."
],
"links": [
[
"creating",
"creating"
],
[
"deceptively",
"deceptively"
],
[
"favourable",
"favourable"
],
[
"impression",
"impression"
],
[
"appearance",
"appearance"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(figurative, uncountable) A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "eyewash"
}
],
"tags": [
"figuratively",
"uncountable"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"audio": "En-au-window dressing.ogg",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b4/En-au-window_dressing.ogg/En-au-window_dressing.ogg.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/En-au-window_dressing.ogg",
"tags": [
"Australia"
],
"text": "Audio (AU)"
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "window-dressing"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Augenwischerei"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"tags": [
"feminine"
],
"word": "Schönfärberei"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "porhintés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "ámítás"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kirakat"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "szemfényvesztés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kirakatpolitika"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kozmetikázás"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "szépítés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "kendőzés"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "meghamisítás"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "očkovtiratelʹstvo",
"sense": "a means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only",
"word": "очковтирательство"
}
],
"word": "window dressing"
}
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-05 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.