war paint

American  

noun

1. paint applied by American Indians to their faces and bodies before going to war.

2. Informal. makeup; cosmetics.

3. Informal. full dress; regalia.

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war paint British  

noun

1. painted decoration of the face and body applied by certain North American Indians before battle

2. informal finery or regalia

3. informal cosmetics

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Etymology

Origin of war paint

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

In 2020, the Chiefs banned headdresses and war paint in the stadium and pushed for cheerleaders to do the “chop” with a closed fist instead of an open hand.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

"There was one point where a character says, 'If you've got war paint get it on now', and you see people rushing to the kitchen and getting ketchup and things."

From BBC • May 17, 2020

They blog, they have a brand, they wrap themselves in henna or war paint at festivals even though they rarely engage in a physical war, if they ever engage at all.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2020

I put on my war paint: bright red lipstick.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2019

“Ah, Grover . . .” He wiped under his eyes with an oily cloth that left his face grimy, like he had on war paint.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan