showtimen.
/ˈʃəʊtʌɪm/, U.S. /ˈʃoʊˌtaɪm/ 1. The time, period, or season during which a show or shows (such as agricultural, flower, trade, horse, etc., shows) take place. Usually as two words.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > exposure to public view > an exhibition > [noun] > time or period of
run1852
showtime1869
1869 Gardeners' Chron. 23 Jan. 84/3 I had a fine bloom of my own seedlings this year, some..doing good service at show time.
1894 Breeder's Gaz. 24 Oct. 271/1 A good lot where they [sc. cattle] can have exercise..till show time.
1901 Outing Jan. 491/2 At show time there are probably two hundred polo ponies in the city.
1915 Motor World 25 Aug. 34/1 It would be far better for the manufacturers to bring their new cars out at show time.
1967 Boating Apr. 164/2 A major improvement..program..[to the boat show site] is expected to be completed prior to show time.
2011 G. Damerow Backyard Homestead Guide to raising Farm Animals 241 Depending on the breed, they [sc. lambs] will weigh 110 to 140 pounds (50 to 64 kg) at show time.
2.
a. The time at which an entertainment (such as a play, film, concert, etc.) begins or is scheduled to begin. it's showtime: an exclamation signalling this.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > [noun] > a performance > time or duration of performance
showtime1893
running time1912
play date1915
1893 Fall River Line Jrnl. 30 Oct. 5/1 She [sc. a performer]..told me not to wake her until half an hour before showtime.
1941 Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News 31 July 14 (advt.) Go to a movie. It's showtime.
1950 Billboard 15 July 23/3 As soon as show time rolls around, Bozo entertains atop the drive-in's concessions building.
1979 Detroit Free Press 2 Apr. 12 c (advt.) Box Office opens 30 min. before show time.
1997 Boys' Life Nov. 17 [He listens to] music..to get in the proper mood for being a clown. ‘Then I make my entrance and..’. It's showtime.
2004 New Yorker 19 Apr. 91/1 Exiene..has a sort of dishy Broadway shtick, which works well at showtime.
b. figurative and in extended use. Used to signal the beginning of an event or process that is expected to be dramatic, decisive, or otherwise significant.
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1954 K. Patchen Famous Boating Party, & other Poems 11 Soon It Will. Be showtime again. Somebody will paint beautiful faces all over the sky.
1967 P. Alien tr. C. H. Polite Flagellants iv. 82 It was showtime again. Time to enter the career girl role,..pretend to be efficient.
1989 L. Hamilton Real Thing 160 ‘Okay, folks, it's showtime!’ Things began to move quickly as the ground crew bustled around the plane.
1992 Empire Apr. 76/1 (caption) ‘Showtime!’ cries one of the many firemen..of the Chicago 17th Division.
2004 New Yorker 15 Nov. 97/3 Whatever you thinkin' about, you..work it out before you pick up that bat. Showtime, baby.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1869