gussy up
Britishverb
Etymology
Origin of gussy up
C20: probably from the name Gussie, diminutive of Augusta
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But “Is God Is” refuses to gussy up its allegories with too many special effects or gratuitous gore.
From Salon ● May 19, 2026
Dolly Parton is starting an apparel brand for dogs that will let pet owners gussy up their pups just like the legendary country music singer.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 1, 2022
Depending on how you like to gussy up your voice for chats, streams, or podcast appearances, you might be able to get some solid performance out of the Icepop.
From The Verge ● Aug. 10, 2021
He has an ear for how people can weaponize idealism; he understands how the language of self-care and self-help can gussy up plain old self-interest.
From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2021
“Let’s try it! We’ll just take Miss St. James’s hairbrush and a perfume bottle or two—something to gussy up Theo’s room and make it look as though a young lady lives there.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
