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Glite Dictionary
to prim out

to prim out

9.3
To dress in very neat, formal clothes to look too proper
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : vestirse de manera formal
  • They always prim out for Sunday service, wearing their finest and most proper attire.

Examples

  • Before the awards ceremony, he decided to prim out and wore a starched shirt and tie.

  • She likes to prim out in conservative suits for every business meeting.

  • Don't prim out too much at the party!

  • She loves to prim out for formal events.

  • Before the awards ceremony, he decided to prim out and wore a starched shirt and tie.

  • She likes to prim out in conservative suits for every business meeting.

  • They always prim out for Sunday service, wearing their finest and most proper attire.

Synonyms

to dress up
vsto prim out
178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

is about dressing in an excessively proper or overly formal way
to suit up
vsto prim out
  • Informal
38 4.0

Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event

can be a habitual excessively proper personal style, not only purposeful dressing
to deck out
vsto prim out
  • Informal
15 4.1

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

leans more toward excessive formal neatness rather than mere elaborateness for appeal
to overdress
vsto prim out
8 4.6

To wear clothes that are too formal or showy for the occasion

does this habitually as an excessively proper dress style
to primp
vsto prim out
  • Informal
8 7.2

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

emphasizes excessive proper formality rather than cosmetic grooming
to attire
vsto prim out
  • Formal
7 4.6

To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive

stresses excessive propriety and neatness rather than mere impressiveness
to prim
vsto prim out
1 8.1

To act or dress in a very formal, proper way

is specifically about dressing in an excessively proper manner
to prim up
vsto prim out
7.6

To dress neatly and formally for an event

is more excessively proper and affected in appearance
to prink
vsto prim out
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

favors excessively proper formal neatness rather than showy elegance
to tog out
vsto prim out
  • UK
8.6

To dress in nice clothes for a special event

is about dressing in an excessively proper way, not only for occasions
to deck up
vsto prim out
  • Informal
8.2

To put on special clothes to look nice for an event

is about dressing in an excessively proper, formal way rather than for pure appeal
to rig out
vsto prim out
  • Informal
6.9

Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive

emphasizes excessive proper neatness, not mainly impressiveness
to fancy up
vsto prim out
  • Informal
6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is about dressing in an excessively proper formal way rather than just being stylish

Antonyms

sloppy
155 2.0

Untidy and done without care

casual
81 1.3

Suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions

How Proper

to prim out
9.3
to dress up
178 2.7
casual
81 1.3

Surface Forms

prim out infinitive
primed out past
primed out past participle
priming out present participle
prims out third person singular

Morphology

prim + out

The verb 'prim' already denotes dressing or behaving with affected formality, and the particle 'out' commonly adds an outward/display or intensified/completive sense in verb+particle constructions. Together the meaning 'to dress in a prim, overly proper way' is directly derivable from these constituents following standard English composition patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.

Etymology

Prim out may come from the simple picture of someone becoming very prim, neat and proper, and putting that look out for everyone to see. That is why to prim out means 'to dress in a prim, formal, or overly proper way'.