Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dress in a prim, neat, or excessively proper manner: The verb "prim up" means to make oneself look tidy, formal, and precise, often to the point of being stiff or prudish. It implies a careful, sometimes fussy, attention to one's appearance to achieve a demure or overly correct look.

Usage

• "Prim up" is a phrasal verb. It is used to describe the act of dressing oneself or, less commonly, another person, with particular attention to neatness and propriety. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting the result is overly formal, stiff, or lacking in natural ease.
• It is typically used in informal contexts.

Examples

• Verb:
  • She decided to prim up for the job interview, choosing a high-collared blouse and pulling her hair into a severe bun.
  • He told the children to prim up before their grandparents arrived.
  • You don't need to prim up so much for a casual backyard barbecue.

Advanced Usage

• "to prim oneself up": A reflexive construction emphasizing the action one performs on oneself.
  • She spent an hour primming herself up in front of the mirror.

Variants and Related Words

• Prim (adj): Neat, formal, and proper to the point of being fussy.
  • She has a very prim and proper demeanor.
• Prim (verb): To make a prim facial expression or to dress primly.
  • She primmed her lips in disapproval.

Synonyms

• Spruce up: To make neat and smart in appearance (generally more positive and less formal than "prim up").
• Tidy up: To make neat and orderly (broader, not specific to personal appearance).
• Preen: To groom oneself with elaborate care (often used for birds or people admiring themselves).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Doll up: To dress smartly or glamorously (often for a special occasion; implies more style and flash than "prim up").
• Gussy up: To dress or decorate in a showy way (informal).
• Smarten up: To make oneself look tidier and more stylish.

Verb

1. dress primly