dressed to kill

Idioms  

1. Also, dressed to the nines. Elaborately attired, as in For the opening of the restaurant she was dressed to kill, or At the opera everyone was dressed to the nines. The first of these hyperbolic expressions dates from the early 1800s and uses kill in the sense of “to a great or impressive degree.” The phrase to the nines in the sense of “superlative” dates from the late 1700s and its original meaning has been lost, but the most likely theory is that it alludes to the fact that nine, the highest single-digit numeral, stands for “best.” Also see gussied up.

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Example Sentences

On one rainy Friday night in the Chapinero neighborhood, in northeast Bogotá, a swarm of young Colombians, with gelled hair and dressed to kill, gathered to relax at a craft brewery.

From Los Angeles Times

The menu lists artichoke quiche, tagliolini, ravioli with pecorino and veal Milanese, all dressed to kill with fresh black truffles.

From New York Times

Even though Moira lost her fortune and lives in a roadside motel in a town called Schitt’s Creek, the former soap opera star is always dressed to kill, complete with a different wig every day.

From Washington Times

In the ceremonies, there are continuous evocations of blooms merging, cut flowers, fruits and their transient freshness—lilies, dressed to kill, only to flash in a moment of glory and then perish.

From The New Yorker

“Watching Reeves outfight everyone on the planet — always dressed to kill — is precisely why these films exist,” The Times said in its review.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beautiful
• chic
• classy
• dapper
• dressy
• fashionable
• jazzy
• mod
• new
• nifty
• polished
• sleek
• slick
• smart
• snazzy
• trendy
• upscale