dress-up

[ dres-uhp ]

/ ˈdrɛsˌʌp /

being an occasion, situation, etc., for which one must be somewhat formally well-dressed: the first dress-up dance of the season.

Informal. Usually dress-ups.

Nearby words

First recorded in 1665–75; noun, adj. use of verb phrase dress up

We only have extra under-things, said Marie, and one dress-up frock apiece, besides our camp clothes and ceremonial dresses.
Winona of the Camp Fire|Margaret Widdemer
All these dress-up kimonos have decorations in color, sometimes embroidered and sometimes dyed on the lower points of the front.
Letters from China and Japan|John Dewey
Arf of its only ousemaidin; and the other arf is dress-up and make-believe.
Press Cuttings|George Bernard Shaw
As a rule, young people love a “dress-up” party, and the guests all entered into the spirit of the thing.
Patty's Friends|Carolyn Wells

Her first contact with him in a well-lighted room made her aware that there were other things to the person besides the dress-up.
Hungry Hearts|Anzia Yezierska