Paradebeispiel

A Paradebeispiel - literally, "parade example" - is self-evident and everyone knows about it. Kind of like a parade, a public march through the street that presents something - a political opinion, grandeur or success - to the public.

It's a prime example of something - but doesn't always have to be positive. "1984" by George Orwell may be a Paradebeispiel for literature that predicts the future, while your grumpy old next-door neighbor who complains when you watch TV after 10:00 pm is a Paradebeispiel for unfriendly people.

We all want to stand out in something, but before you get called a Paradebeispiel, just make sure it's for something like "the ideal host" or "good time management," rather than "chronically under dressed" or "never on time."