dressed up to the nines

dressed up to the nines
Meaning
Dressed flamboyantly.
Origin
Many theories as to the origin of this phrase. One has it that tailors used nine yards of material to make a suit (or according to some authors a shirt). The more material you had the more status. Nine yards seems generous even for a fop. Nine has been used as a superlative in other contexts.

Meaning and origin of phrases. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dressed up to the nines — ► dressed (up) to the nines dressed very smartly or fancily. Main Entry: ↑nine …   English terms dictionary

  • dressed (up) to the nines — dressed (up) to the ˈnines idiom (informal) wearing very elegant or formal clothes Main entry: ↑dressedidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • dressed up to the nines —    Someone dressed up to the nines is wearing very smart or glamorous clothes.     Caroline must be going to a party she s dressed up to the nines …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • dressed up to the nines — wearing fancy clothes, elegantly dressed; spruced up …   English contemporary dictionary

  • dressed (up) to the nines — Phrs. Dressed very well and fashionably …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • dressed (up) to the nines — Phrs. Dressed very well and fashionably …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • be dressed up to the nines — informal to be wearing very fashionable or formal clothes for a special occasion. They must have been on their way to a wedding or something. They were dressed up to the nines …   New idioms dictionary

  • dressed to the nines — ► dressed (up) to the nines dressed very smartly or fancily. Main Entry: ↑nine …   English terms dictionary

  • dressed to the nines — adjective Very fancily or formally dressed; wearing very showy or splendid clothing. All you will see is a girl you once knew, although shes dressed up to the nines, at sixes and sevens with you …   Wiktionary

  • dressed to the nines — • dressed to the nines/teeth dressed elegantly The stars were all dressed to the nines during the Academy Awards ceremony …   Idioms and examples

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