spic-and-span
3
4.9
- adjective
- /ˌspɪk ənd ˈspæn/
:
impecable
- Before the big party, we need to make sure the house is spic-and-span.
- spic-and-span room
- spic-and-span house
Examples
-
Spic and span, that's my motto.
-
We hit the jackpot: two spic-and-span rooms in the huge-foyered apartment of Mrs. Fredericka James on 116th Street between Claremont Avenue and Riverside Drive.
Fiction book (2001) -
everything has to be spic and span
-
Not until the floor is spic and span, he said.
Fiction book (1994) -
I still have not learned to keep the home spic and span.
Blog text (12) -
We are supposed to be getting the farm spic-and-span before the cousins arrive tomorrow.
-
I'm getting better, but I'm still far from spic and span.
Blog text (13) -
Make yourself spic-and-span, get all the mending out of the way, and then, and only then, sit down for a nice, quiet hour with the Good Book.
-
Shiny, spic and span.
-
The whole place was spic and span, as if awaiting some pathetic version of a stately visit—some knight come to court the princess daughters.
Fiction book (1995)
Synonyms
144
1.0
Clean and tidy with things in order
47
1.0
Having things in order with no mess
41
2.5
Completely clean with no stains or dirt
36
5.9
Completely clean and neat with no marks or stains
4
1.4
Clean and well organized with no mess
3
4.2
Very clean and tidy, looking almost new
1
4.1
Very clean and tidy with no dirt or marks
Completely clean with no spots or marks
Neat and clean with everything in its place
Antonyms
How Clean
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word spic-and-span comes from a simple memory story: spic was thought to be like a 'spike' or nail and span a 'fresh wood chip', so something spic-and-span was 'brand new' or fresh from the workbench. That's why today spic-and-span means very clean and tidy.