bling

bling — noun

1. flashy jewellery or other decoration chosen to stand out and give a rich, high-s

1.nounB2
Definition

flashy jewellery or other decoration chosen to stand out and give a rich, high-status look

Example

Aiko wore silver bling that flashed under the party lights.

wear bling

The shop window was filled with bling before the music awards.

uncountable noun after with

Common collocations
  • cheap bling
  • silver bling
  • add some bling
  • a lot of bling
  • more bling
Synonyms
  • jewellery

    neutral and broad; 'bling' stresses a bright, show-off style

  • accessories

    broader; can include bags and belts, not only shiny decoration

  • ornaments

    focuses on decorative objects in general, not specifically a flashy rich look

  • ice

    very slangy and often used especially for expensive diamonds

Grammar Patterns

wear bling

add some bling to + noun

a lot of bling

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. It can mean jewellery on the body, but speakers also use it for flashy extra detail added to clothes, bags, phones, or stage costumes.

Common Mistakes

She bought many blings for the party.
She bought a lot of bling for the party.
The noun is usually uncountable.

bling — adjective

Word family

  • blingy
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Bling is an informal word for jewellery or decoration that is meant to look rich and grab attention. Jewellery is the normal neutral word, so it can describe simple pearl earrings as well as very flashy chains. Accessories is broader still: it includes bags, belts, scarves, and other extra items, not just shiny pieces. Ice is even more slangy than bling and is used especially for diamonds or diamond-covered watches and chains. Choose bling when the bright, show-off effect matters. Choose jewellery when you only want to name the item. You can say Ravi added some bling to his phone case, but you would more naturally say Aiko bought new jewellery for the wedding.

bling ↗jewellery ↗accessoriesice ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • bling jewellery
  • bling culture
  • bling lifestyle
  • bling jacket

Phrases

  • add some bling
  • wear bling
  • go for a bling look

Etymology

English

Bling seems to have grown out of late-1990s U.S. rap slang, where it also appeared as bling-bling. The word is imitative: it echoes the imagined sparkle or ring of expensive metal and stones. From that sound-based slang use, English developed bling as an informal word for flashy jewellery and showy decoration.