Smokeshow – Meaning, Origin and Usage
The phrase ‘Smokeshow’ is usually written as one word, but you may occasionally see it as ‘smoke show’. If perhaps you’ve heard the word before, but aren’t 100% sure what it means, you my friend, have come to the right place.
Here, I’m going to cover the meaning, how the phrase originated, and how it’s generally used. I’ll even throw in some alternative words and phrases that you can use instead if you so wish.
What’s the Meaning of the Phrase ‘Smokeshow’?
The phrase ‘Smokeshow’ is a term for a very attractive, or an exceptionally beautiful, sexy, or sexually attractive person.
Although the term can be applied to any person, no matter how they identify, it is usually used to refer to attractive women.
What’s the Origin of the Phrase ‘Smokeshow’?
While the precise first use of the term isn’t quite clear, we can confirm that the earliest use in the Urban Dictionary dates back to the year 2003, where it is defined as ‘an extremely hot girl’.
It is speculated that the term is derived from the more well known phrase ‘Smoking hot’, which means pretty much the same thing. The word ‘Hot’ has been used to refer to attractive people, especially women, since the 1980s, and this transitioned to ‘Smoking hot’ when the person is hotter than just ‘Hot’. ‘Smoking hot’ became ‘Smokeshow’ as a way to imply that you can’t take your eyes off the person.
The use of the phrase really took off in pop culture around 2008, when the website ‘Barstool Sports’, a website for sports and entertainment started a column titled ‘Smokeshow of the Day’ where they’d display several photos per day of an attractive woman
You can still find loads of previous ‘Smokeshow of the Day’ photos on the Barstool Sports website today. That’s actually a much better way to explain what is meant by the phrase ‘Smokeshow’.
The popularity of the phrase accelerated soon after, becoming a popular hashtag on social media platforms, especially on Instagram. It’s also used on online chat rooms and podcasts and memes.
The use of the phrase has since died down following its peak in late 2020, following the backlash from the hit US TV show ‘The Bachelorette’.
This is due to people in the community, particularly feminists, saying that the term is sexist and misogynistic because it sexualises women and labels them as mere sex objects and/or eye candy.
How to use the Phrase ‘Smokeshow’?
If you’re as lucky as me, you may have many opportunities to use the phrase ‘Smokeshow’. When using the phrase in print or text, an exclamation point afterward is often appropriate. Here are some examples of the phrase in use:
‘She was quite the smokeshow on our wedding day (and night).’
‘With abs like that, he’s such a smokeshow!’
‘I gotta have him – he’s such a smokeshow!’
‘What a smokeshow – I could watch him all day.’
‘You mean the smokeshow has a name? I must have missed it when I was checking him out.’
‘Did you see the Miss Universe pageant last weekend? All those girls were true smokeshows.’
‘She’s such a smokeshow – I need to find out if she’s single.’
‘Gotta get me a smokeshow to bed. I’ll be loving life!’
‘I wouldn’t kick him out of bed. Such a smokeshow!’
‘That magician’s assistant is a smokeshow for sure, I just can’t take my eyes off her.’
‘I bet she looks stunning naked – such a smokeshow.’
‘With your new dress and me doing your makeup, you’ll be quite a smokeshow!’
‘That celebrity is a smokeshow. I didn’t notice anyone else on the stage the whole time.’
‘Look at his Facebook profile picture – what a smokeshow!’
What you can Say Instead of ‘Smokeshow’
Here are some alternative words and phrases you can use instead if you prefer (in no particular order):
- ‘Smoking hot’
- ‘Smoking’
- ‘Stunner’
- ‘Show stopper’
- ‘Cutie’
- ‘Looker’
- ‘Smoking hot chick’
- ‘One smoking hot lady’
- ‘Curvy’
- ‘Beauty’
- ‘Hot’
- ‘Hot stuff’
- ‘Super hot’
- ‘Unbelievably hot’
- ‘MILF’
- ‘Hottie’
- ‘Stunning’
- ‘Sexy’
- ‘Sex bomb’
- ‘Babe’
- ‘Knockout’
The preceding list of comparable words may be easier to understand, but they simply do not have the same high-intensity impact that you get with ‘Smokeshow’.
Final Thoughts
If you want to compliment a person’s appearance without causing her any offence, you may be better off referring to them as ‘Beautiful’, ‘Handsome’ or ‘Pretty’ rather than something that implies you find them sexually attractive.
Many people, especially those who are feminists, prefer to be complimented on other qualities besides appearance, which after all is mostly a product of the genetic lottery and makeup technique. Besides, as mentioned earlier, the term is seen by some as sexist and misogynistic because it sexualises women and labels them as mere sex objects and/or eye candy.
