Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a fool, one who makes a stupid exhibition of themselves.

1889		Bathhurst Free Press 23 Mar. 2: Prisoner said that the month’s imprisonment was just sifficient to make a poppy-show of him, for he would be shaved and his hair cut.
1908		Advertiser (Adelaide) 18 Dec. 8/9: [I] told him I didn’t like it and wouldn’t be made a poppyshow of.
1933		(con. 1900s) C. McKay Banana Bottom 170: T’ink I gwinea mek a poppy-show a mese’f a-settin’ up an’ drinkin’ tea wid a backra man.
1949		‘Uncle Newton’ Ups and Downs of Newsy Wapps Bk 5 6: Then Georgie Plummer. Poppyshow! Right into the hole left by Cusha Puss!
1953		R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together (1966) 104: You must be tek me fo’ poppy-show.
1970		L. Bennett Auntie Roachy Sey (2003) 70: Man drivers got a bad way fi teck oman drivers meck poppy-show.
1986		O. Senior ‘Ballad’ Summer Lightning 103: Ai Dulci, Estrella, come look at this pappyshow no mi chile.
1990		L. Goodison Baby Mother and King of Swords 43: You is a real poppyshow.
2000		R. Antoni Grandmother’s Erotic Folktales 14: That King ain’t nothing more than a big pappyshow.
2008		A. Wheatle Dirty South 42: I taught you to appreciate good clothes [...] not to go on like a puppy show in a sufferer’s face.

2. something ridiculous and/or vulgar; foolishness, showing off.

1927		Mercury (Hobart, Tas.) 15 Sept. 2/5: Hobart should be a beautiful and dignified city, not a garish poppy show.
1937		Aus. Women’s Wkly 3 July 12/2: Let it not be a dry museum of antique prejudice nor [...] a grotesque poppyshow of fake modernism.
1941		A. Mendes ‘Afternoon in Trinidad’ in Lehmann Penguin New Writing No. 6 81: He was putting on airs and making a good ‘poppyshow’ of himself.
1966		(con. 1949) L. Bennett ‘Prosperous New Year’ in Jamaica Labrish 73: Sey me dah-teck de whole o’ dem / An meck big poppy-show!
1983		T. White Catch a Fire 76: Look fe poppy show [ridiculous exhibition] comin’ dis way. Another bungo in ’im bes’ work regjegs [ragged clothes].
2001		(con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 228: D’you t’ink I bought de waster fe puppy show?