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bib-and-tucker

bib-and-tucker

1 9.9
The best clothes a person wears for a special event
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : mejor atuendo
  • Watching her little fellow toddling off in his best bib and tucker.

Examples

  • After searching through her closet, she finally found her favorite bib-and-tucker for the party.

  • For the wedding, she chose her finest bib-and-tucker to impress everyone.

  • He always wears his best bib-and-tucker for formal events like graduations.

Synonyms

dress
vsbib-and-tucker
333 1.0

Clothes of a particular style or for a special occasion

is specifically the best or most attractive clothes for special occasions
Sunday best
vsbib-and-tucker
7 4.1

Clothes you wear for church or special events

is best clothing for any special occasion rather than only for church
Sunday clothes
vsbib-and-tucker
2 3.0

The best, most formal clothes someone wears for church or important events

is best or most attractive clothing, not necessarily strictly formal
turnout
vsbib-and-tucker
  • UK
2 7.1

A set of clothes worn for a particular occasion

is the best or most attractive clothes rather than any chosen outfit

Antonyms

81 1.3

Suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions

How Formal

white tie
  • Formal
2 7.0
bib-and-tucker
  • Archaic
1 9.9
formal
1 3.5
smart
127 2.4
casual
81 1.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

bib-and-tucker = bib + tucker (semi-transparent) = bib + tucker

The components 'bib' and 'tucker' clearly signal clothing, but the idiomatic sense 'best clothes' is conventional and 'tucker' is somewhat archaic, reducing full transparency.

Etymology

The word bib-and-tucker comes from two old clothing items: bib 'a cloth fastened at the neck, like a baby's bib' and tucker 'a small cloth or neck trim once worn with dresses'. So to wear your bib-and-tucker is to put on your nicest, most formal clothes for a special occasion.