spiff

verb

ˈspif

spiffed; spiffing; spiffs

: spruce

—usually used with up

spiff up your wardrobe

spiffed-up

ˈspift-ˈəp How to pronounce spiff (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

titivate, spruce up, smarten up, or spiff up?

Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Lacy half-curtains spiff up the windows, arched with stained glass, in the narrow front rooms, one painted the color of mint, the second a shade of peach.

Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Follow these easy steps to spiff up those Converse kicks in no time!

Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 14 June 2022 Now’s the time to spiff up ragged lawns is an article published in August, but the basics are covered.

oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2022 Instantly spiff up your look by with the latest arrivals, from shoulder bags to backpacks.

oregonlive, 28 May 2021 Further serving to spiff up the place is newly available gray leather upholstery on top-dog SEL trim levels, a welcome addition to an interior color palette that heretofore consisted of black, black, and black, with a splash or two of silver trim.

Steve Siler, Car and Driver, 14 May 2021 Instantly spiff up your look by upgrading your purse, phone case or duffel bag, all without paying full price.

oregonlive, 10 May 2021 Before the virus, the couple spent $25,000 to update the building and patio, eager to spiff up their building when the road construction ended.

Jackie Crosby, Star Tribune, 20 Mar. 2021 The 15-mile Gwynns Falls Trail beckons hikers and bikers; the garden club works to spiff up the landscape.

Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, 4 Mar. 2021 See More

单词	spiffed-up
释义	spiff verb ˈspif spiffed; spiffing; spiffs : spruce —usually used with up spiff up your wardrobe spiffed-up ˈspift-ˈəp adjective Did you know? titivate, spruce up, smarten up, or spiff up? Titivate, spruce, smarten, and spiff all mean "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive." Titivate often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire ("titivate the costume with sequins and other accessories"), but it can also be used figuratively (as in "titivating the script for Broadway"). Spruce up is sometimes used for cosmetic changes or renovations that give the appearance of newness ("spruce up the house with new shutters and fresh paint before trying to sell it"). Smarten up and spiff up both mean to improve in appearance often by making more neat or stylish ("the tailor smartened up the suit with minor alterations"; "he needed some time to spiff himself up for the party"). The origins of titivate are uncertain, but it may have been formed from the English words tidy and renovate. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Lacy half-curtains spiff up the windows, arched with stained glass, in the narrow front rooms, one painted the color of mint, the second a shade of peach. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Follow these easy steps to spiff up those Converse kicks in no time! Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 14 June 2022 Now’s the time to spiff up ragged lawns is an article published in August, but the basics are covered. oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2022 Instantly spiff up your look by with the latest arrivals, from shoulder bags to backpacks. oregonlive, 28 May 2021 Further serving to spiff up the place is newly available gray leather upholstery on top-dog SEL trim levels, a welcome addition to an interior color palette that heretofore consisted of black, black, and black, with a splash or two of silver trim. Steve Siler, Car and Driver, 14 May 2021 Instantly spiff up your look by upgrading your purse, phone case or duffel bag, all without paying full price. oregonlive, 10 May 2021 Before the virus, the couple spent $25,000 to update the building and patio, eager to spiff up their building when the road construction ended. Jackie Crosby, Star Tribune, 20 Mar. 2021 The 15-mile Gwynns Falls Trail beckons hikers and bikers; the garden club works to spiff up the landscape. Mike Klingaman, baltimoresun.com, 4 Mar. 2021 See More Word History Etymology English dialect spiff dandified First Known Use 1979, in the meaning defined above spiffed-up adjective as in elegant Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance elegant dapper spruce formal stylish dressy natty tidy snappy fashionable chic orderly smart dolled up fastidious meticulous modish in sharp careful spotless immaculate fussy combed groomed squeaky-clean pristine a la mode clean à la mode Antonyms & Near Antonyms unkempt disheveled slovenly sloppy frowsy messy dishevelled wrinkled shabby rumpled untidy frowzy grimy sleazy dirty scruffy filthy uncombed dingy grubby nasty stained unclean spotted mussed dowdy soiled scuzzy unfashionable foul inelegant scroungy sullied smirched scrubby unstylish See More
随便看	mudirias mudirieh mudlarked mudlarking mudlarks mudless mudminnow mudpack mudpacks mudpuppies mudpuppy mudra mudras mudrocks mudroom mudrooms muds mudsill mudsills mudskipper mudskippers mudslide mudslides mudslinger mudslingers

spiff

verb

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective