name dropping

Related to name dropping: name dropper

drop names

To mention important people as if they are one's friends or associates, usually in an attempt to receive preferential treatment. A: "I know Jim, the owner, OK?" B: "You can drop names all you want, but you're still not getting into this restaurant any time soon."
See also: drop, name
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

drop names

 and drop someone's name
to mention a name or the names of important or famous people as if they were personal friends. (See also drop someone's name.) Mary always tries to impress people by dropping the name of some big-time executives she claims to know. Bill's such a snob. Leave it to him to drop the names of all the local gentry.
See also: drop, name
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

drop names

Refer to important persons as acquaintances in order to impress the listener. For example, Her habit of dropping names made everyone very skeptical about her veracity. [Mid-1900s]
See also: drop, name
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

drop names

refer frequently to well-known people in such a way as to imply that they are close acquaintances.
See also: drop, name
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

drop ˈnames

mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress others ▶ ˈname-dropping noun: I can’t stand all this name-dropping! Does he really know Brad Pitt?
See also: drop, name
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

name dropping

Also, to drop names. Mentioning the names of famous persons to imply that one is on familiar terms with them. The term dates from the mid-1900s. J. D. Salinger had an amusing take on it in Franny and Zooey (1962): “There’s an unwritten law that people in a certain social or financial bracket may name drop as much as they like just as long as they say something terribly disparaging about the person as soon as they’ve dropped his name.”
See also: dropping, name
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • drop names
  • drop (someone's) name
  • the chosen few
  • at the end of (one's) fingertips
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
  • ball and chain
  • a ball and chain
  • at someone's expense
  • at (one's) expense
References in periodicals archive
Name dropping and celebrity gossip sold, but it didn't win you much respect.
The Walter Winchell of the elites: the triumph of celebrityism in high-brow America
The references go beyond name dropping, but not far enough to enlighten me much.
Social Science as Civic Discourse: Essays on the Invention, Legitimation, and Uses of Social Theory
Only distressing thing is me referring to that twit as "my mate" now sounds like I'm name dropping!
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING SLIGHTLY [...]; The Beautiful North
I'm bragging and name dropping. That's all my life has come to these days, by the way.
The enjoi tour!
RTE'S Prime Time host Mark Little has been name dropping, having grown up living near Bono during U2's early years.
Our man about the House: A LITTLE FAME
This is not a big chatty, gossipy fashion bite, but there are some juicy tidbits and some name dropping of Talley's famous friends.
A.L.T: a Memoir
Antony Cotton blasted Ryan Thomas and Jack P Shepherd after they had a dig at him for constant name dropping.
CORONATION TWEET WAR; Antony lays into Ryan and 'irritant' Jack
George peppers his novel with feisty and flavorful characters, along with a fair share of name dropping, which adds to the fun.
One Woman Short
Shameless name dropping I know, but I lost 10lbs and got a lovely set of nails.
Sue Carroll's column: NEVER MOORE MOVED