to gussy up
5
8.6
- phrasal verb
- /ˈɡʌsi ʌp/
- Informal
:
arreglarse
- Let's go upstairs and get gussied up and go out dancing.
- get gussied up
- go get gussied up
Examples
-
Before the big event, he took time to gussy up his suit for a more polished look.
-
From the looks of them, they were city women, all gussied up to beat the band.
Fiction book (2001) -
In the morning, I get up a full hour before the kid does, which gives me time to get myself gussied up.
Blog text (34) -
And there she was, standing on the doorstep, all gussied up.
-
Whoo, look at her, all gussied up.
-
I must say, you look extremely fetching... all gussied up in your white tux and tie.
-
Dot didn't come to the city often, and when she did, she managed to look like a suburban matron all gussied up for a day of shopping and a night at the theater.
Fiction book (2000) -
She decided to gussy up her living room with colorful decorations for the party.
-
The children were all gussied up in their best clothes for the family wedding.
Synonyms
178
2.7
Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive
56
3.4
Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event
22
7.6
To dress someone or something in a fancy way
15
4.1
To make a person or a room look special with clothes and decorations
8
8.7
Make something or someone look fancier by adding decorations
8
7.2
To get ready by fixing your clothes, hair, or makeup carefully
7
3.9
Make yourself look attractive by dressing and doing your hair or makeup
7
4.6
To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive
6
4.3
Make people and places look nicer by dressing up, adding decorations, or using makeup
4
6.9
To make something look showy to attract attention
4
3.7
To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive
1
7.4
To make something like a car or outfit look very fancy by adding bright decorations
1
6.8
Make yourself or someone more stylish using clothes and makeup
1
7.2
To dress up and make yourself look attractive for a special event
1
7.2
Make a person or place look neater and nicer by cleaning and adding small things
1
5.0
Make something look more attractive, often only on the surface
1
8.9
To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention
To make a person or thing look fancy, often in a showy way
To make someone or something look fancier to impress people
To put on special clothes to look nice for an event
Make something look more stylish and attractive
To put on fancy clothes to look good
To dress in special clothes to look attractive
To make someone or something look stylish and attractive with makeup and clothes
To dress carefully to look fancy
Make a person look neat and more attractive by dressing and grooming them carefully
To make clothes or things look too bright and ugly
To dress or decorate in a very bright way to get attention
To dress someone or make them act in a showy, fashionable way
To add small not needed decorations to clothes or events to make them seem fancier
Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive
To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event
To dress in nice clothes for a special event
Making a car or other object look bright and showy with extra parts
Antonyms
How Fancy
- Informal
15
4.1
- Informal
5
8.6
178
2.7
- Informal
13
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'gussy' already means to dress or decorate, and the particle 'up' adds an intensifying/completive sense, so the combined meaning ('to dress or decorate in a showy way') is directly derivable from the parts. This follows a common English verb + up pattern familiar to learners, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Gussy up may come from the old nickname Gussie, a name people used for women who liked to dress very fancy. To 'make someone like Gussie' meant putting on bright clothes and decorations, so gussy up now means 'to dress or decorate in a showy way'.