fig up
Definition
- Verb (phrasal verb):
- To dress in a smart, stylish, or elaborate way, often for a special occasion or to create a specific impression. It implies putting effort into one's appearance, typically wearing one's best or most formal clothes.
Usage
- Fig up is an informal phrasal verb. It is used to describe the act of making oneself look especially neat, fashionable, or attractive by wearing nice clothing. It often carries a sense of dressing more formally or elaborately than usual.
- It is typically used in informal spoken English. A more common and standard synonym is "dress up."
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The verb can be used reflexively as "fig oneself up."
- It can sometimes imply a slight sense of over-dressing or putting on airs through one's clothing, depending on context.
Variants and Related Words
- Dress up: The most common and standard synonym for "fig up."
- Doll up: An informal synonym, often used specifically for making oneself look glamorous or attractive.
- Fancy up: Another informal variant with a very similar meaning.
- Gussy up: A chiefly North American informal synonym.
- Tog up/out: A British informal synonym.
- Fig out: A less common variant with identical meaning to "fig up."
Synonyms
- Dress up
- Doll up
- Primp
- Preen
- Adorn oneself
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Fig out: Has the same meaning as "fig up."
- Dress up: To wear formal or special clothes.
- Doll up: To make oneself look attractive, often with makeup and nice clothes.
Related Idioms
- Put on one's Sunday best: To wear one's best clothes.
- Dressed to the nines: Dressed in an extremely fashionable or elaborate manner.
Verb
-
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
-
