gussying up
Making oneself presentable
Gussying up is making something or someone look more attractive, often with a sense of excess or frivolity.
You might gussy up for a party or gussy up a room before guests arrive.
The phrase implies effort spent on appearance rather than substance: They gussied up the old house with a fresh coat of paint.
Sometimes dismissive—suggesting the improvement is superficial.
- dress upMake appearance fancier
- redecoratingUpdating interior appearance
- fancifyMake more elaborate
- dolling upGrooming for special occasions
- putting on the ritzActing extravagantly fancy
embellishing · primping · grooming · preening · adorning · accessorizing · beautifying · polish · staging · window dressing · curb appeal · brightening · renovating · revising · gilding · editing · styling · festooning
- sprucing upbeautifying, freshening, freshening up, grooming, primping
- Beautifyingmakeover, decoration, adornment, embellishment, beautification
level of adornment/presentation effort
gussying updressing down
Harsh verbal reprimand
stripping down · toning down · going natural · simplifying · undressing