apple-pie order
1
8.4
- noun
- Informal
:
en perfecto orden
- After spring cleaning, every room in the house was in apple-pie order.
Examples
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The office manager insists that all paperwork be kept in apple-pie order.
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She prided herself on keeping her kitchen in apple-pie order.
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The room was in apple-pie order before the guests arrived.
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After cleaning, everything was in apple-pie order.
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After hours of cleaning, the entire house was in apple-pie order.
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Her desk is always in apple-pie order, with every file neatly arranged.
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For the presentation, he ensured that all the materials were in apple-pie order.
Synonyms
135
2.7
The way things are placed or organized in a place
91
2.4
The state of having things neat and in order
3
3.6
A way of keeping things neat and in the right place
Antonyms
How Neat
Surface Forms
Morphology
apple-pie + order
The literal parts ('apple-pie' as a dessert and 'order' as arrangement) do not directly yield 'perfect neatness'—the link depends on a cultural/metaphorical association (apple-pie evokes homely perfection) rather than straightforward composition. Because 'order' is transparent but the role of 'apple-pie' is idiomatic and culturally specific, a B1 learner who knows the words might only partially infer the meaning and would likely benefit from prior exposure.
Etymology
Apple-pie order may come from the image of a neat, well-made apple-pie whose pieces and crust are arranged perfectly, showing careful order. That's why saying something is in apple-pie order means it is very tidy and in 'perfect order'.