montrer at C1 — refined & idiomatic
On this page
Pointing, showing off and showing up.
The idioms
Montrer du doigt means to point at — and figuratively, to single someone out for blame: « il ne faut pas les montrer du doigt ». The figurative sense is now the more common one in journalism.
Montrer patte blanche — to show a white paw, from the fable — means to prove your credentials before being let in. And ne pas se montrer means to fail to turn up.
💡 Focus at this level: Idiomatic — montrer du doigt
👨🏫 How to use « montrer » at this level
1. « Montrer du doigt » usually means to blame.
2. « Montrer patte blanche » = prove your bona fides.
3. « Il ne s’est pas montré » = he didn’t show up.
Il ne faut pas les montrer du doigt.We shouldn’t point the finger at them.
Il faut montrer patte blanche.You have to prove your credentials.
Il ne s’est pas montré.He didn’t show up.
Elle aime se montrer.She likes to be seen.
🎮 Practise « montrer »
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