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spick-and-span

spick-and-span

3 4.2
Very clean and tidy, looking almost new
  • adjective
  • /ˈspɪk ənd spæn/
translation icon : impecable
  • The house looked spick-and-span after a thorough cleaning.
  • want your room spick-and-span

Examples

  • She would not settle for less than spick-and-span.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I gotta keep this place spick-and-span all the time.

  • This place has got to be spick-and-span.

  • I want this place spick-and-span.

  • At least it's all spick-and-span.

  • Now, I want this place spick-and-span by Saturday night or I'm turning us all in.

  • I want those desks spick and span before anyone leaves.

  • The floor is spick-and-span.

  • And maybe wash the kitchen floor, because I realized, sweetheart, that the thing that's going to make me most happy is to just look around this place and see that it is spick-and-span.

  • If you like your home spick and span, then getting an energetic puppy that likes to explore and nose into everything is going to lead to stress and frustration—for both yourself and your dog.

    Blog text (10)

Synonyms

neat
vsspick-and-span
144 1.0

Clean and tidy with things in order

is more intense, stressing spotless condition and a new look
tidy
vsspick-and-span
47 1.0

Having things in order with no mess

is more extreme, focusing on perfect cleanness and looking brand new
spotless
vsspick-and-span
41 2.5

Completely clean with no stains or dirt

stresses extreme cleanness while also highlighting a like new appearance
immaculate
vsspick-and-span
36 5.9

Completely clean and neat with no marks or stains

focuses similarly on total cleanliness but adds a new appearance sense
well-kept
vsspick-and-span
7 1.8

Neat and in good condition because someone looks after it

implies greater freshness and spotless appearance beyond mere upkeep
neat and tidy
vsspick-and-span
4 1.4

Clean and well organized with no mess

is stronger, stressing extreme cleanness and a like new appearance
spic-and-span
vsspick-and-span
3 4.9

Completely clean and tidy with no dust or dirt

has identical meaning but differs only in form or spelling
immaculately clean
vsspick-and-span
1 4.1

Very clean and tidy with no dirt or marks

expresses the same extreme cleanness but also stresses looking new
speckless
vsspick-and-span
  • Archaic
5.5

Completely clean with no spots or marks

adds a sense of overall neatness and looking like new
spit-spot
vsspick-and-span
  • Archaic
9.9

Very clean and tidy with no dirt or mess

covers the same perfect tidiness while also implying a new look

Antonyms

525 1.0

Not clean or covered with dirt

233 1.0

Not tidy or clean, with things in the wrong place

How Clean

spotless
41 2.5
spick-and-span
3 4.2
clean
1.0
neat
144 1.0
tidy
47 1.0
dirty
525 1.0
filthy
183 1.5

Surface Forms

spick-and-span positive

Etymology

Spick-and-span comes from old words spick ('nail' or 'spike') and span ('wood chip'), an image of something made with new nails and new wood. So, spick-and-span means very clean, neat, and looking like new.