primp
/primp/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To groom or dress oneself with meticulous and often elaborate care, paying excessive attention to one's appearance. This typically involves adjusting clothing, arranging hair, or applying cosmetics in a fussy or finicky manner.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- She will primp for hours before a date.
- He stood in front of the mirror to primp his hair and straighten his tie.
- The birds primp their feathers to attract a mate.
Advanced Usage
- "to primp and preen": This common collocation emphasizes fussy, self-absorbed grooming, often used for people or animals (especially birds).
- She spent the morning primping and preening for her job interview.
Variants and Related Words
- Primping (gerund/noun): The act of primping.
- Her constant primping annoyed her friends who were waiting.
Synonyms
- Preen: To groom meticulously (often used for birds or with a connotation of smugness).
- Groom: To make neat and tidy in appearance.
- Spruce up: To make neat or smart in appearance (less fussy than ).
- Doll up (informal): To dress stylishly or glamorously.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- Primp oneself up: To make oneself look more attractive through careful grooming and dressing. (Note: This is a set phrase using the target word).
- She primped herself up for the gala event.
Related Idioms
Verb
- dress or groom with elaborate care
- She likes to dress when going to the opera