to gussie

9.9

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

verb
/ˈɡʌsi/

Informal

: arreglarse

Before the event, they gussied up the hall with balloons and streamers.

Examples

She loves to gussie up for parties.
She always gussies herself up for family gatherings, wearing her best clothes and jewelry.
He likes to gussie up his car with bright decals and shiny rims.
He gussied himself up for the wedding.
She decided to gussie up her dress for the party by adding some shiny sequins.
Before the photoshoot, the makeup artist helped him gussie up his look with bright colors.
To impress the guests, she gussie up the living room with fancy decorations and flowers.

Synonyms

to dress something up

vsto gussie

56 3.4

Make something look nicer or more attractive for a special event

is more about adding showy ornament rather than subtle improvement

to doll

vsto gussie

Informal

22 7.6

To dress someone or something in a fancy way

is more noticeably showy and focused on ornamental effect

to glamorize

vsto gussie

12 5.8

To make someone or something look more attractive and exciting than they really are

is more literal dressing up with visible, ornate decoration rather than image making

to dress up

vsto gussie

12 2.9

Make something look better than it really is

leans toward louder, more elaborate dressing rather than mild enhancement

to gussy

vsto gussie

Informal

8 8.7

Make something or someone look fancier by adding decorations

leans more toward loud, showy ornamentation rather than simple neatness

to primp

vsto gussie

Informal

8 7.2

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

leans more toward bold ornament and showy finishing touches

to do up

vsto gussie

7 3.9

Make yourself look attractive by dressing and doing your hair or makeup

is more about flashy or ornate dressing rather than subtle neatness

to pretty up

vsto gussie

Informal

6 4.3

Make people and places look nicer by dressing up, adding decorations, or using makeup

emphasizes flashier, more decorative changes rather than simple prettifying

to gussy up

vsto gussie

Informal

5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

is similar but focuses on making things look flashy and ornate

to tart

vsto gussie

4 6.9

To make something look showy to attract attention

is similar but emphasizes ornate, elaborate display

to get up

vsto gussie

4 3.7

To dress in special clothes to look different or attractive

is more about adding ornate or showy elements for attention

to trick out

vsto gussie

Informal

1 7.4

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

is about dressing up in a showy or heavily decorated manner

to doll up

vsto gussie

Informal

1 7.2

To dress up and make yourself look attractive for a special event

is similar but generally more exaggerated and ornamental in result

to glam up

vsto gussie

Informal

1 6.8

Make yourself or someone more stylish using clothes and makeup

is similar but often shows more overt, ornate display rather than subtle glamour

to tart up

vsto gussie

1 8.9

To make something or someone look bright and showy to attract attention

is similar but can be more broadly showy rather than only tasteless

to glamourize

vsto gussie

1 6.3

Make something seem more attractive than it really is

focuses on physical, showy dressing rather than creating an exaggerated image

to trick up

vsto gussie

Informal

7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

puts stronger emphasis on flashy ornamentation and showy display

to rig out

vsto gussie

Informal

6.9

Dress yourself or others in fancy clothes to look impressive

is more about making a showy, attention grabbing visual change

to deck up

vsto gussie

Informal

8.2

To put on special clothes to look nice for an event

tends more toward decorative, showy dressing rather than plain neatness

to fancy up

vsto gussie

Informal

6.5

Make something look more stylish and attractive

is more strongly showy and often more ornate in presentation

to fig out

vsto gussie

Archaic

9.9

To dress in special clothes to look attractive

is more about adding flashy details to attract notice

to fig up

vsto gussie

9.9

To put on fancy clothes to look good

adds a greater sense of showiness and ornament than simple dressing

to prink

vsto gussie

Archaic

9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

is more overtly decorative and often louder in display

to glam

vsto gussie

Informal

7.5

To make someone or something look stylish and attractive with makeup and clothes

leans more toward loud ornament and showy visual change than quiet style

to tittivate

vsto gussie

9.9

To make something or yourself look neat and attractive

is similar but may be even more overtly ornate and decorated

to slick up

vsto gussie

Informal

6.8

Make a person look neat and more attractive by dressing and grooming them carefully

is more focused on eye-catching ornament and showy dressing

to bedizen

vsto gussie

9.9

To make clothes or things look too bright and ugly

is more often used for loud, attention seeking ornamentation

to dizen

vsto gussie

Archaic

9.9

To dress or decorate in a very bright way to get attention

is closely related but can imply even more excessive decoration

to dandify

vsto gussie

Archaic

9.6

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

is more generally about bright, ornate dressing for attention

to tog up

vsto gussie

9.4

To put on special clothes to look attractive for an event

is more focused on showy, ornate dressing for attention

Antonyms

to dishevel

2 8.1

To make someone's hair or clothes look untidy

How Dressed

to gussie

Informal

9.9

to glam up

Informal

1 6.8

to dress up

178 2.7

to spruce up

Informal

13 3.8

Surface Forms

gussie infinitive

gussied past

gussied past participle

gussying present participle

gussies third person singular

Etymology

Gussie probably comes from a friendly name like Gus or Gussie, but the exact origin is not certain. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone called Gussie putting on fancy clothes, because gussie means 'to dress up' or make something look 'showy'.