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gussy up

/ˈgəsi əp/

To gussy up is to decorate something or dress up for a special occasion. You might want to gussy up your living room before throwing that surprise party this weekend!

When you want to make something more fancy or festive, you gussy it up. You might gussy up your house — touching up the paint and organizing the clutter — before trying to sell it. And you might gussy up for the first day of school, styling your hair in an extra fancy way and wearing your favorite outfit. One guess about the origin of this phrase links it to an old Australian nickname for a man who cares too much about his appearance: a gussie.

Definitions of gussy up
  1. verb
    put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive
    synonyms: attire, deck out, deck up, dress up, fancy up, fig out, fig up, get up, overdress, prink, rig out, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up
    dress, dress up
    dress in a certain manner
    costume, dress up
    dress in a costume
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    dress down, underdress
    dress informally and casually
    types:
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    dress, plume, preen, primp
    dress or groom with elaborate care
    prank
    dress up showily
    tart up
    dress up in a cheap and provocative way
    enrobe
    adorn with a robe
    bedizen, dizen
    dress up garishly and tastelessly
    type of:
    dress, get dressed
    put on clothes
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