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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

dressed to the nines en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

From dressed + to the nines; first recorded in the 1800s.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, not-comparable) Very fancily or formally dressed; wearing very showy or splendid clothing.
    • During the early part of the day he took a stroll in the vicinity of "Fell's Point," dressed to the nines, with his cravat, and pin, and shirt collar neatly folded over. 1846, Alexander Kerr Bonn, An Original, Laughable and Comical Tale of Hughie Morrison, the Scottish Emigrant, page 20:
    • All you will see is a girl you once knew, although she's dressed up to the nines, at sixes and sevens with you. 1976, Tim Rice, Don't Cry For Me Argentina:
    • He arrived at the gala, dressed to the nines in his top hat and tails.

Relateds

dressed to kill · Sunday best · to the nines

Translations (22)

gd air èideadh gu spaideil (very fancily or formally dressed) · es de oro y azul (very fancily or formally dressed) · fi viimeisen päälle (very fancily or formally dressed) · es de punta en blanco (very fancily or formally dressed) · hu kicsípi magát (very fancily or formally dressed) · fr tiré à quatre épingles (very fancily or formally dressed) · es de tiros largos (very fancily or formally dressed) · is vel til fara (very fancily or formally dressed) · it vestito di tutto punto (very fancily or formally dressed) · ru разодетый в пух и прах (very fancily or formally dressed) · nl op zijn paasbest (very fancily or formally dressed) · cmn 盛装打扮 (very fancily or formally dressed) · ca anar de vint-i-un botó (very fancily or formally dressed) · ga pioctha péacach (very fancily or formally dressed) · ru расфуфыренный (very fancily or formally dressed) · wa so s' cwarante-set (very fancily or formally dressed) · pl elegancko ubrany (very fancily or formally dressed) · ru одетый с иголочки (very fancily or formally dressed) · fr sur son trente et un (very fancily or formally dressed) · wa riletchî come on vea k' a deus meres (very fancily or formally dressed) · fi pukeutuneena (very fancily or formally dressed) · es hecho un brazo de mar (very fancily or formally dressed)