lampshade

lamp +‎ shade. The verb sense comes from the idea of making something more conspicuous by hanging a lampshade on it.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈlæmp.ʃeɪd/

lampshade (plural lampshades)

1. A cover over a lamp to either diffuse the light or to block it in certain directions so it doesn't cause glare by shining directly in one's eyes.

lampshade (third-person singular simple present lampshades, present participle lampshading, simple past and past participle lampshaded)

1. (narratology, fandom slang) To intentionally call attention to the improbable, incongruent, or clichéd nature of an element or situation featured in a work of fiction within the work itself.
   • 2011, Corinne Gaston, "Adapted comic book flick has the ring, but no power", Daily Trojan, 21 June 2011:

     Only one short bit of humor is endearing, lampshading the ridiculousness of an eye-mask being able to conceal a superhero's identity.

   • 2013, Heide Goody, ‎Iain Grant, How to Write a Collaborative Novel, →ISBN:

     Rewriting a whole character is one heck of a chore but the editor/writer must either bite the bullet or indulge in some clever trickery like lampshading.

   • 2019 April 30, Alex Leadbeater, “Did "Marge Be Not Proud" Start The Simpsons' Decline In Season 7?”, in Screen Rant:

     Just as the push by writers in season 4 to make Homer stupider (a trend so established it was lampshaded in "The 138th Episode Spectacular") created some of the best episodes before eventually birthing an unlikable buffoon unaffectionately called "Jerkass Homer", so too is it less the episode itself as much as what it represented.

2. (fashion) To wear an oversize top with skintight thigh-high boots and no leggings.
   • 2017 September 27, Sara M Moniuszko, “Lampshading lives on with the 'no pants' trend – The leggy styles, explained”, in USA TODAY:

     Pants. Who needs them? Definitely not celebrities sporting the lampshading or "no pants" trend this summer.

   • 2018 August 17, Lindsey Lanquist, “We're Halfway Through 2018, and Ariana Grande Is Still Lampshading”, in Style Caster:

     Kate Moss lampshaded, Bella Hadid lampshaded—hell, nearly every Kardashian took the trend for a spin.

   • 2018 December 8, Courteney Larocca, “Lampshading: Olivia Culpo & More Stars Who Nailed Ariana Grande's Hoodie & Thigh-High Boots Look”, in Hollywood Life:

     Lampshading – or, wearing an oversized top with over-the-knee boots – isn't just for Ariana Grande.

   • 2018 December 30, “Ariana Grande's 'lampshading' a major 2018 fashion trend”, in The New Indian Express:

     Adding to this, she aces the casual-chic look of oversized sweatshirts and hoodies paired with thigh-high boots, known as lampshading.

3. To adorn with one or more lampshades.
   • 1913, Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country:

     Her hotel sitting-room had, as usual, been flowered, cushioned and lampshaded into a delusive semblance of stability; and she had really felt, for the last few weeks, that the life she was leading there must be going to last — it seemed so perfect an answer to all her wants!

   • 1984 -, Lynn Cartier, Intimates, →ISBN, page 24:

     A middle-aged bellboy carried her luggage through the lampshaded glow of the lobby, up the elevator, and into her rooms.

   • 2019, AndyRay Patton, Shakey Quakey Ride, →ISBN:

     And even the destroyed lampshades had pieces unblocking off of a fallen lampshaded being, the head maybe dead, but all its limbs, its poles, its blocks, went flipping and adding to other lampshaded beings, adding to them, making them larger, bulkier and able to stretch taller.

4. To design or create lampshades.
   • 1975, New York - Volume 8, page 181:

     Ruth Vitow (160 East 56th Street, 355-6881) has been the doyenne of lampshading for 30 years. She makes up designs in all categories, and her own custom lamps of Lucite and wood.

   • 1993, Audur H. Winnan, Wanda Gag, page 8:

     Finally she took a job decorating lampshades. Lampshading, as she called it, left her drained and without impetus or inspiration to draw, which always made her unhappy.

• For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:lampshade.

• headlamps