arm candy
(ARM kan.dee)
n.
An extremely beautiful person who accompanies a member of the opposite sex to a party or event, but is not romantically involved with that person (cf. eye candy).
Example Citation:
Now that gossip and society columnists are popularizing the phrase "arm candy" to refer to an attractive young thing who is escorted by an older, more powerful person for others to eye appreciatively, how long will it be before they begin using a companion term, 'room candy,' for a similarly attractive young thing who is invited to receptions or parties for decorative purposes?
—Stuart Elliot, "Twenty, count 'em, 20 questions on media and marketing to astound and amaze your friends," The New York Times, November 30, 1998
Earliest Citation:
All About Eve (1950, FoxVideo). [Marilyn Montroe had] already had mini-roles in eight movies when she turned up as George Sanders' arm candy in the party scenes of this film. But her jewel of a performance as an actress-on-the-make caught the public's attention.
—Marcia Froelke Coburn, "Marilyn's enduring appeal," Chicago Tribune, August 21, 1992
