👔 To dress up 🔧 To equip

to rig out

6.9

Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive

phrasal verb
/rɪg aʊt/

Informal

: vestir

He rigged out in a tuxedo for the gala event last night.

Examples

She rigged him out for the gala.
The children rigged out in fancy costumes for the school play.
We were rigged out in matching uniforms for the parade.
Don't forget to rig out for the party!
He rigged out in a tuxedo for the gala event last night.
The children rigged out in fancy costumes for the school play.
We were rigged out in matching uniforms for the parade.

Synonyms

to dress up

vsto rig out

178 2.7

Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive

is narrower, used when the goal is an especially impressive appearance

to dress something up

vsto rig out

56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

is about clothing people to achieve an especially impressive look

to suit up

vsto rig out

Informal

38 4.0

Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event

aims more at achieving an especially impressive or elaborate appearance

to deck out

vsto rig out

Informal

15 4.1

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

focuses on making an especially impressive or attractive appearance

to primp

vsto rig out

Informal

8 7.2

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

is about dressing to create an impressive attractive look rather than grooming detail

to attire

vsto rig out

Formal

7 4.6

To put on special clothes to look nice or impressive

is similar but stresses creating an especially elaborate or showy look

to gussy up

vsto rig out

Informal

5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

targets achieving a notably impressive or attractive presentation

to get up

vsto rig out

4 3.7

To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive

stresses dressing to create an especially impressive appearance

to trick out

vsto rig out

Informal

1 7.4

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

is focused on making an especially impressive or attractive appearance

to dress to kill

vsto rig out

Informal

1 6.2

To wear very attractive clothes to impress people

is about dressing to create an impressive and attractive overall effect

to turn out

vsto rig out

1 3.4

To dress someone in special clothes for an event

focuses specifically on clothing to make an especially impressive appearance

to fit out

vsto rig out

1 4.2

To give a person or place the supplies needed for a specific purpose

focuses on dressing to make an especially impressive or attractive appearance

to tog up

vsto rig out

9.4

To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event

aims specifically at creating an especially impressive appearance

to tog

vsto rig out

9.9

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

focuses on dressing in very elaborate clothes to impress

to tog out

vsto rig out

8.6

To dress in nice clothes for a special event

stresses dressing to appear especially impressive rather than just occasion fit

to deck up

vsto rig out

Informal

8.2

To put on special clothes to look nice for an event

is oriented toward creating an especially impressive overall look

to gussie

vsto rig out

Informal

9.9

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

focuses more narrowly on creating an especially impressive appearance

to trick up

vsto rig out

Informal

7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

emphasizes dressing to look especially impressive or striking

to fancy up

vsto rig out

Informal

6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is specifically about creating an especially impressive or attractive look

to fig out

vsto rig out

Archaic

9.9

To dress in special clothes to look attractive

aims at making an especially impressive and attractive presentation

to fig up

vsto rig out

9.9

To put on fancy clothes to look good

is focused on producing a notably impressive or striking appearance

to dandify

vsto rig out

Archaic

9.6

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

is broader, aiming at an especially impressive or attractive clothing effect

to prink

vsto rig out

Archaic

9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

focuses more on producing an overall especially impressive or attractive impression

Antonyms

to dress down

Informal

1 3.8

To wear casual clothes instead of formal ones

How Fancy

to gussy up

Informal

5 8.6

to rig out

Informal

6.9

to dress up

178 2.7

to dress

∞ 1.0

to put on

679 1.0

Surface Forms

rig out infinitive

rigged out past

rigged out past participle

rigging out present participle

rigs out third person singular

Morphology

rig + out

The verb 'rig' already means 'to equip/prepare' and the particle 'out' commonly adds a sense of completeness or thoroughness, so 'rig out' (to outfit or equip fully) is directly derivable from its parts. This fits common phrasal-verb composition patterns, making the meaning predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Rig out may come from the image of fastening many parts onto a person, like you would rig a boat and send it out to be seen; this picture of fitting on lots of pieces is why rig out means 'to dress someone in special or fancy clothes'.