window shopping

[ˈwɪndoʊ ˈʃɑːpɪŋ]
noun/gerund
compras de vitrines / vitrinismo
1. The activity of looking at goods displayed in shop windows without intending to buy anything
I enjoy window shopping on weekends even though I rarely purchase anything.
Eu gosto de olhar vitrines nos fins de semana, mesmo que raramente compre algo.
2. Browsing products online or in stores out of casual interest rather than with the intent to make a purchase
She spent the afternoon window shopping at the mall with her friends.
Ela passou a tarde olhando vitrines no shopping com suas amigas.
Window shopping is a leisure activity popular in both Brazilian and American urban culture, particularly in shopping malls and commercial districts. In Brazil, it's often a social activity done with friends. In the USA, it's commonly associated with urban strolling and casual weekend activities. The practice became increasingly digital during the pandemic with online window shopping.
NYC Slang
cruising the stores / window gazing
Synonyms / Sinônimos
browsingwindow gazingcasual shoppingsight-seeing shopping
Antonyms / Antônimos
deliberate shoppingpurposeful shoppingbuying

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
compras de vitrines / vitrinismo
Most common expression in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
olhar vitrines / shopping de vitrines
Informal, colloquial usage
São Paulo
compras de vitrines / browsing
Uses both traditional and English loanword
Portugal
compras de montra / espreitar montras
Portuguese uses 'montra' instead of 'vitrine'

Related Words

storefrontdisplay windowmerchandiseretailshopping mallboutique

Related Idioms & Phrases

just looking
browsing around
killing time at the shops
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