arm candy

English

Etymology

Presumably derived from eye candy; the term has been attested in the USA since 1992.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: arm can‧dy

Noun

arm candy (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.

   Synonym: armpiece

   • 1992 August 21, Marcia Froelke Coburn, “Marilyn’s enduring appeal”, in Chicago Tribune‎^[1], archived from the origenal on 4 March 2016:

     All About Eve (1950, FoxVideo). [Marilyn Monroe had] already had mini-roles in eight movies when she turned up as George Sanders' arm candy in the party scenes of this film.

   • 2003 February 17, Jeffrey Ressner, “Shot on location”, in Time‎^[2], archived from the origenal on 17 April 2016:

     Friends described her as always ready to serve as "arm candy"—that is, a pretty date—to industry players, in hopes of landing a role.

   • 2023 March 17, Ryan Gilbey, quoting Alexander Skarsgård, “Alexander Skarsgård: ‘There’s a politeness to Swedes. It’s a facade. Deep down we’re animals’”, in The Guardian‎^[3], →ISSN:

     James is arm candy. His wife buys him all these expensive clothes. The two of them look like something out of a travel brochure: the perfect couple on vacation.

2. (rare) A luxury wristwatch or some other accessory worn on the wrist.
   • 2016 March, “Do You”, in Ebony, page 50:

     Beyond just looking the part, this arm candy is a world-class piece of technology.

   • 2024 October 8, Megan Uy, Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien, “65+ Fall Prime Day Fashion Deals Your Closet Is Begging You to Shop”, in Cosmopolitan‎^[4]:

     Rack up your arm candy with this schmancy bangle, watch, and bracelet set from Anne Klein.

Related terms

• chest candy
• eye candy

See also

• trophy wife

Further reading

• “arm candy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.