# gussy up

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gussy-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to make someone or something look more attractive or fancy, often for a special event.

For teachers: to enhance the appearance of a person, place, or object through decoration or grooming; often carries a connotation of superficiality or excessive effort.

## Examples

- We need to gussy up the living room before the guests arrive.
- She spent all afternoon gussying herself up for the awards ceremony tonight.
- The developers tried to gussy up the old warehouse with a fresh coat of paint and some modern lighting to attract younger tenants.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They gussied the office." but "They gussied up the office." — the particle 'up' is essential to complete the meaning of the phrase.

## Usage notes

- often used with a reflexive pronoun like 'himself' or 'themselves' when referring to dressing up.
- Teaching tip: this is a colorful, slightly old-fashioned Americanism; contrast it with 'decorate' or 'dress up' to show its more playful, informal tone.

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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.