Name-dropping (or name-checking) is the practice of naming or alluding to important people or institutions in order to indicate one's association with them.
The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively,[1] and under certain circumstances may constitute a breach of professional ethics.
[citation needed] By implying (or directly asserting) a connection to people of high status, the name-dropper hopes to raise their own social status to a level closer to that of those whose names they have dropped, and thus elevate themselves above, or into, present company.
By indicating the names of people one knows, one makes known their social circle, providing an opportunity for others with similar connections to relate.
[7] Name-dropping is also sometimes used in works of fiction to place a story in a certain historical timeframe, or to imply the involvement of a historical figure in the action (for example, in a story set during World War II, mentioning Adolf Hitler or Winston Churchill).