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Glite Dictionary
🥧 A sweet pastry 🚫 A prostitute 🎉 To decorate showily 🍋 Sharp flavor 💬 Harsh remark
to tart

to tart

4 6.9
To make something look showy to attract attention
  • verb
  • /tɑrt/
  • UK
translation icon : adornar
  • He always likes to tart up his presentations with colorful graphics.

Examples

  • Uh... fix your shirt and tart up your hair.

    101 Dalmatians (1996)

  • The guys in the band told me the honcho from Warners suggested they do something with their look, maybe get differently shaped guitars, and tart up their hair.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • She's decided it's a bit plain for her taste, and she wants me to tart it up with this.

    S.O.S. Titanic (1980)

  • Kate: Well, I've tarted it up a bit.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Last time we were here, this was semi-derelict with the woodwork in a poor state, but now it has been tarted up and is the village hairdressing salon.

    Blog text (25)

  • She decided to tart up her dress with sequins for the party.

  • The chef will tart up the dish with some fresh herbs before serving.

Synonyms

to overdress
vsto tart
8 4.6

To wear clothes that are too formal or showy for the occasion

is closer in showiness but focuses on mismatch with occasion rather than flashiness
to gussy up
vsto tart
  • Informal
5 8.6

To dress or decorate in a fancy way to look nicer

leans more toward attracting attention by being flashy rather than neat
to trick out
vsto tart
  • Informal
1 7.4

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

is usually harsher, implying flashiness aimed specifically at attracting notice
to tart up
vsto tart
  • UK
1 8.9

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

is defined as dressing to attract attention with flashy excess
to prank
vsto tart
  • Archaic
1 8.1

To dress something in showy clothes or decorations

is more about attracting notice through flashiness than mere impressing
to bedizen
vsto tart
9.9

To make clothes or things look too bright and ugly

is similar but stresses drawing attention rather than plain adornment
to dizen
vsto tart
  • Archaic
9.9

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

focuses more on flashy attention seeking rather than tasteful styling
to trick up
vsto tart
  • Informal
7.2

To make someone or something look fancier to impress people

tends to be more negative, focusing on showy attention grabbing
to dandify
vsto tart
  • Archaic
9.6

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

is broader, covering any flashy decoration aimed at gaining attention
to prink
vsto tart
  • Archaic
9.9

To dress carefully to look fancy

is flashier and more about attracting notice than self-focused elegance

Antonyms

to simplify
99 2.5

Make something easier to understand or use

to understate
18 5.2

To make something seem smaller or less important than it really is

Phrasal Verbs

to tart up
  • UK
1 8.9

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

Compounds

pop tart
20 2.7

A thin sweet pastry with a fruit or chocolate filling that you heat in a toaster

apple tart
3 1.0

A baked sweet pastry like a pie with sliced apples and sugar

fruit tart
1 1.8

A pastry with cream or custard topped with fresh fruit

lobster tart
6.7

A pastry shell filled with cooked lobster often served as a starter

How Flashy

to tart
  • UK
4 6.9
to gussy up
  • Informal
5 8.6
to dress up
178 2.7
to spruce up
  • Informal
13 3.8
to freshen up
  • Informal
4 3.0

Surface Forms

tart infinitive
tarted past
tarted past participle
tarting present participle
tarts third person singular

Etymology

Tart, as in tart up, comes from the idea of making something look like a tempting tart, so to tart up is to dress or decorate something in a showy way to attract attention.