# all dressed up and nowhere to go

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/all-dressed-up-and-nowhere-to-go
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

## Examples

- I am all dressed up and nowhere to go tonight.
- The party was canceled at the last minute, leaving us all dressed up and nowhere to go.
- After spending hours preparing for the gala, she found herself all dressed up and nowhere to go when the event was suddenly postponed.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.