putting on the ritz
Displaying ostentatious wealth
Putting on the ritz means making a show of elegance, luxury, or sophistication, often with an air of extravagance.
The phrase comes from the Ritz hotels, synonymous with wealth and glamour, and was popularized by Irving Berlin's 1929 song.
Someone putting on the ritz might dress in their finest clothes, adopt refined manners, or splurge on fancy accommodations.
We're putting on the ritz for the anniversary dinner.
The expression can suggest genuine celebration or gentle mockery of pretension.
- glamorousAlluringly stylish and exciting
- opulentOstentatiously wealthy
- showyExcessively eye-catching
- Great GatsbyEnigmatic 1920s protagonist
- roaring twentiesProsperous 1920s period
Irving Berlin · lavish · flapper style · chic · extravagant · living large · cabaret · ballroom dancing · champagne toast · flamboyant · gilded · top hat · white tie · ostentatious · Fred Astaire · couture · sumptuous · grandiose
- dressed updressed up, dolled up, decked out, spruced up, gussied up
putting on the ritzdressing down
Harsh verbal reprimand
plain · simple · roughing it · humble · understated