to doll up
1
7.2
- phrasal verb
- /dɔl ʌp/
- Informal
:
arreglarse
- If they weren't, why the heck are they all dolled and glittered up?
- doll up and wear
No, and I don't want to get dolled up.
- No, and I don't want to get dolled up.
- She was super cute, did her makeup, got all dolled up, all dolled up.
Examples
-
So, last Tuesday, I got dolled up, dressed up in business casual attire (only the top part would make the photo, yes, but a trans girl like myself has to dress it
Blog text (30) -
It was fun getting dressed and doing my makeup in the morning, though it wasn't lost on me how odd it was to doll up for a chemo date.
Blog text (9) -
And then, you know, just get dolled up and don't worry about that.
-
I found it fascinating, yet further evidence that no matter how much you doll up someone in MM makeup and gear, there's something going on behind the mask that makes Marilyn, Marilyn.
Blog text (25) -
Before the party, she decided to doll up and wear her favorite dress.
-
He always takes his time to doll up before going out on a date.
-
On special occasions, many people enjoy to doll up in beautiful outfits.
Synonyms
178
2.7
Put on special clothes for an event or to look attractive
38
4.0
Put on formal clothes or a uniform for an event
26
4.1
To make a place or person look neat and smart
22
7.6
To dress someone or something in a fancy way
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
6
4.3
Make people and places look nicer by dressing up, adding decorations, or using makeup
5
8.6
To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer
4
3.7
To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive
1
7.2
Make a person or place look neater and nicer by cleaning and adding small things
1
6.8
Make yourself or someone more stylish using clothes and makeup
1
8.9
To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention
1
4.8
Make yourself or a place look neater and more stylish
Make a person look neat and more attractive by dressing and grooming them carefully
To make something or yourself look neat and attractive
To make someone or something look stylish and attractive with makeup and clothes
To put on special clothes to look nice for an event
To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event
To put on fancy clothes to look good
To make someone or something look fancier to impress people
Make something look more stylish and attractive
To make a person or thing look fancy, often in a showy way
To dress carefully to look fancy
To dress neatly and formally for an event
Antonyms
How Fancy
- Informal
1
6.8
- Informal
1
7.2
178
2.7
- Informal
13
3.8
- Informal
32
1.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to dress or make oneself look smart' is directly derivable from 'doll' (to ornament or dress someone fancifully) combined with the particle 'up', which signals completion/intensification of the action. This follows a common verb + up composition in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Doll up may come from the image of dressing a doll in pretty clothes and fixing its hair. That picture of making a toy look neat and fancy is why doll up now means 'to dress' or 'to make yourself look attractive'.