Definition

1. Verb (transitive or intransitive):
   • To dress in a special, elaborate, or showy manner, often for a particular occasion, with the intent of making oneself more attractive or impressive.

Usage

• The verb "fancy up" is informal and often used to describe the act of improving one's appearance through clothing and accessories, typically for a social event. It implies an effort beyond everyday dressing.
• It can be used with an object (e.g., "fancy up oneself") or reflexively (e.g., "fancy oneself up"). It is also commonly used in the passive voice (e.g., "to be fancied up").

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to fancy something/someone up": To decorate or improve the appearance of an object or person.
  • We need to fancy up the living room before the guests arrive.
  • He fancied up the old car with a new paint job and shiny rims.

Variants and Related Words

• Dress up (verb): A more common synonym with a very similar meaning.
• Gussy up (verb, informal): To dress or decorate in a showy way.
• Spruce up (verb): To make neat, smart, or stylish in appearance (can apply to people or things).
• Fancy (adjective): Elaborate in structure or decoration. (e.g., a fancy restaurant).

Synonyms

• Dress up
• Gussy up
• Deck out
• Prink
• Preen

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Doll up (informal): To dress (someone or oneself) smartly and attractively.
  • She dolled herself up for the party.

Related Idioms

• Put on one's Sunday best: To wear one's finest clothes.
  • They put on their Sunday best for the wedding, which is another way to fancy up.

Verb

1. put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive
   • She never dresses up, even when she goes to the opera
   • The young girls were all fancied up for the party