to deck out
- phrasal verb
- /dɛk aʊt/
- Informal
- For the wedding, she was all decked out in a beautiful gown and matching accessories.
And then, you know, they get me decked out and I get outside and then they, they need me to go voice to voice with the guy.
- And then, you know, they get me decked out and I get outside and then they, they need me to go voice to voice with the guy.
- I've even decked out my little office desk area with a fluffy fall Garland.
- I've seen some also in like Scherling in like, I don't know, in a variety of different Gucci make a pair that's like decked out in its interlocking G pattern.
Examples
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She was always bejewelled, decked out in her diamonds, emeralds, makeup, hair, glamorous and fabulous at all times.
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Look at you, all decked out.
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I got my place already decked out.
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I mean, I have the whole house decked out.
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Why you all decked out?
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I arrived home one day to find the bed decked out in new colors.
Fiction book (2002) -
I had decided to get decked out for my debut.
Fiction book (1990) -
Men, women, and children walk decked out in their traditional garb, full of color and regalia.
Academic text (2009) -
Some have fur trim, others are decked out in animal print or boast bright color patterns.
Blog text (31) -
Martin Humphries strode into the boardroom, decked out in a sky-blue business suit.
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive
Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event
Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event
To decorate something to make it look festive
To give someone clothes or equipment for a particular purpose
To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive
To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer
To dress someone in special clothes for a play or event
To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive
To dress someone in clothes of a special type
To make something like a car or outfit look very fancy by adding bright decorations
To dress someone in special clothes for an event
Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive
To put on special clothes to look nice for an event
To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event
To dress in nice clothes for a special event
To put on fancy clothes to look good
To dress in special clothes to look attractive
Make something look more stylish and attractive
To make someone or something look fancier to impress people
To dress carefully to look fancy
Antonyms
How Dressed
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'deck' already means 'to decorate' and the particle 'out' adds a sense of thoroughness or outward presentation, so the combined meaning 'to dress or decorate elaborately' follows directly from the constituents. This verb+particle compositional pattern is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Deck out may come from sailors who decorated the ship's deck with flags and cloth for celebrations. They made the deck look fancy, so deck out came to mean 'to dress' or 'decorate' people or places.