Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to deck up

to deck up

8.2
To put on special clothes to look nice for an event
  • phrasal verb
  • /dɛk ʌp/
  • Informal
translation icon : vestirse
  • She likes to deck up for special occasions such as weddings.

Examples

  • She loves to deck up for parties!

  • He decks up for every occasion.

  • All the contestants decked up in colorful costumes for the parade.

  • Before the big dinner, he was busy decking up in his finest suit.

  • All the contestants decked up in colorful costumes for the parade.

  • Before the big dinner, he was busy decking up in his finest suit.

  • She likes to deck up for special occasions such as weddings.

Synonyms

to dress up
vsto deck up
178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

is more focused on dressing up specifically to seem especially appealing
to suit up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
38 4.0

Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event

is similar but stresses decorative elaboration aimed at appearing especially appealing
to deck out
vsto deck up
  • Informal
15 4.1

To make a person or a room look special with clothes and decorations

is the same meaning but differs only in the verb particle used
to gussy
vsto deck up
  • Informal
8 8.7

Make something or someone look fancier by adding decorations

focuses more on wearing special clothes to look particularly appealing
to primp
vsto deck up
  • Informal
8 7.2

To get ready by fixing your clothes, hair, or makeup carefully

is similar but directs more specifically to special clothing for great appeal
to do up
vsto deck up
  • UK
7 3.9

Make yourself look attractive by dressing and doing your hair or makeup

puts more weight on special or elaborate clothing to attract attention
to attire
vsto deck up
  • Formal
7 4.6

To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive

is similar but usually highlights elaborate or decorative clothing for extra appeal
to pretty up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
6 4.3

Make people and places look nicer by dressing up, adding decorations, or using makeup

focuses more narrowly on wearing special garments for strong appeal
to gussy up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

is similar but often used for personal effort to look especially appealing
to get up
vsto deck up
4 3.7

To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive

is similar but often suggests extra effort to maximize attractiveness
to trick out
vsto deck up
  • Informal
1 7.4

To make something like a car or outfit look very fancy by adding bright decorations

is similar but often implies more focus on clothing than extra decoration
to doll up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
1 7.2

To dress up and make yourself look attractive for a special event

leans more toward special, elaborate clothing for dazzling appeal
to glam up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
1 6.8

Make yourself or someone more stylish using clothes and makeup

is similar but stresses special clothing rather than overall glamour techniques
dressed to kill
vsto deck up
  • Informal
1 6.8

Wearing very attractive, stylish clothes to get people's attention

is similar but emphasizes doing so to look especially appealing rather than merely fashionable
to tart up
vsto deck up
  • UK
1 8.9

To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention

shares showiness but is less negative, focusing on looking especially appealing
to dress to kill
vsto deck up
  • Informal
1 6.2

To wear very attractive clothes to impress people

shares the impressing aim but centers on special elaboration for appeal rather than shock
to turn out
vsto deck up
1 3.4

To dress someone in special clothes for an event

is more about putting on special garments to achieve strong attractiveness
to tog up
vsto deck up
  • UK
9.4

To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event

focuses the same action but often with slightly more emphasis on appeal
to tog out
vsto deck up
  • UK
8.6

To dress in nice clothes for a special event

is similar but stresses doing so to look particularly appealing
to trick up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

shares the impressing aim but centers more on the wearer's own appeal
to rig out
vsto deck up
  • Informal
6.9

Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive

is about the same dressing goal but usually for the wearer's showiness
to gussie
vsto deck up
  • Informal
9.9

To make a person or thing look fancy, often in a showy way

is similar but often used when the person does the dressing themselves
to fancy up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is similar but implies aiming specifically to look especially appealing
to fig up
vsto deck up
  • UK
9.9

To put on fancy clothes to look good

means much the same but often stresses special elaboration for effect
to fig out
vsto deck up
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress in special clothes to look attractive

is nearly identical but may emphasize theatrical or affected appearance more
to dandify
vsto deck up
  • Archaic
9.6

To dress someone or make them act in a showy, fashionable way

focuses more on the clothes themselves to create particular appeal
to tog
vsto deck up
  • UK
9.9

To put clothes on someone, often in a special way for warmth

is closer to personal effort to wear special garments to look appealing
to slick up
vsto deck up
  • Informal
6.8

Make a person look neat and more attractive by dressing and grooming them carefully

leans more toward extra elaboration to achieve striking attractiveness
to prim up
vsto deck up
7.6

To dress neatly and formally for an event

is more about special, elaborate clothing aimed at strong attractiveness
to prink
vsto deck up
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

is similar but usually focuses more on the overall aim to look very appealing

Antonyms

to dress down
  • Informal
1 3.8

To wear casual clothes instead of formal ones

How Dressed

to deck up
  • Informal
8.2
to dress up
178 2.7
to dress
∞ 1.0
to spruce up
  • Informal
13 3.8
to put on
679 1.0

Surface Forms

deck up infinitive
decked up past
decked up past participle
decking up present participle
decks up third person singular

Morphology

deck + up

The meaning 'to put on special or elaborate clothes' follows directly from 'deck' (to decorate) applied to a person plus the particle 'up' indicating enhancement or completion, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'decorate oneself' → 'dress up'. This verb+up composition is a regular, cross-linguisticizable pattern in English and thus readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Deck up may come from the old meaning of deck, 'to decorate'. People would deck rooms with ribbons and flowers, so deck up came to mean 'to dress up'. That's why deck up means 'to put on special clothes to look attractive'.