conspicuous consumption

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conspicuous consumption

The lavish expenditure of money or acquisition of expensive items as a public display of one's wealth or financial success. In rapidly developing economies, conspicuous consumption becomes more and more prevalent as a means for those who have done well to flaunt their new economic status. I can't believe that teenager was killed by thugs trying to steal his high-end sneakers. Conspicuous consumption really is more important than human life today, huh? I'm not surprised he was embezzling money from his company. I wonder if his conspicuous consumption is what helped tip off the authorities.
See also: conspicuous
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

conspicuous consumption

Showing off one’s material wealth. The term was coined by the American economist Thorstein Veblen in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), where he roundly criticized the well-to-do (leisure class) for preying on the rest of society and then flaunting their acquisitions. The term, always used as critically as by its author, has become a cliché.
See also: conspicuous
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
See also:
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