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what does spruce up mean

by Kristin Jakubowski Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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: to make (someone or something) look cleaner, neater, or more attractive We spruced up the room with a fresh coat of paint.

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What does all spruced up mean?

all spruced up Neat and clean. Typically said of something that is or was disorganized or in disrepair. We need to get this house all spruced up before the open house. This place was a wreck the last time I was here. I can't believe you got it all spruced up so quickly! See also: all, spruce, up spruce up

What is the meaning of spruce up?

To spruce up means to make something tidy, to make something clean and neat, to make something smart in appearance. The term spruce up can be directly traced to a term for the country of Prussia. Furthermore, what does Spurce mean?

What are the different types of spruce?

The 11 Different Types of Spruce Trees

  1. Sitka Spruce. The Sitka spruce is native to North America’s West Coast where it can be found on mountainsides throughout Alaska down to Oregon.
  2. White Spruce. The white spruce is a widespread North American species that grows from Newfoundland and Labrador west to British Columbia and as far south as Minnesota and West ...
  3. Black Spruce. ...
  4. Engelmann Spruce. ...

More items...

What are spruce trees used for?

What Are Spruce Trees Used For?

  • Spruce Tree Wood. Spruce wood offers an even texture that makes it appealing as a building material. ...
  • Landscaping Focal Point. Because spruce trees are known for their straight trunks and horizontal branches, they make beautiful additions to the landscape.
  • Living Windbreaks. ...
  • Christmas Trees. ...

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Why do we say spruce it up?

It is related to (and likely comes from) the contemporaneous adjective spruce, which means “neat or smart in appearance.” The verb and adjective are also related to the tree spruce, though the name for the tree shows up in print after the verb and adjective do.

What is another word for spruce up?

What is another word for spruce up?tidyneatenclean upfix updeck outdress uptart upmake neatspiff uptidy up92 more rows

How do you spruce something up?

To spruce up means to make something tidy, to make something clean and neat, to make something smart in appearance. The term spruce up can be directly traced to a term for the country of Prussia.

What does jazz up mean?

more interesting, excitinginformal. : to make (something) more interesting, exciting, or attractive. The company wants to jazz up its image. She tried to jazz the room up with a new rug.

What are two meaning of spruce?

1a : any of a genus (Picea) of evergreen trees of the pine family with a conical head of dense foliage, flat or 4-sided needles, pendulous cones, and soft light wood. b : any of several coniferous trees (such as Douglas fir) of similar habit. 2 : the wood of a spruce.

What is a synonym for making better?

verbheal, ease bad situation. alleviate. ameliorate. attend. better.

How do you pronounce spruce up?

0:051:01How To Say Spruce Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipExpresa prince up prisa es prisa expresa expresa.MoreExpresa prince up prisa es prisa expresa expresa.

What does Spruik mean in Australia?

to speak in publicverb. (intransitive) Australian archaic, slang. to speak in public (used esp of a showman or salesman)

What does fork over mean?

to hand over or use up in payment. I hated to have to fork over that kind of money for a new set of tires.

What does juice up mean?

Definition of juice up transitive verb. : to give life, energy, or spirit to.

What does liven up mean?

to give life, vigor, or spirit to. the bandleader tried to liven up the party by playing more energetic music so people would dance.

What does iron out mean?

Definition of iron out transitive verb. 1 : to make smooth or flat by or as if by pressing. 2 : to resolve or work out a solution to ironed out their differences.

How do you spell Zhuzh it up?

to make (something) more lively and interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition (usually followed by up): These colorful throw pillows are an easy way to zhuzh up your living room.

What is the meaning of Sprouse?

n. humorous term for soulmate, partner, spouse.

What does Fancified mean?

Definition of fancify transitive verb. : to make ornate, elaborate, or fancy a fancified hamburger.

Where did Zhuzh come from?

Others swear the term is Romani in origin, derived from the word “zhouzho,” meaning clean or neat. And still others insist that it is an expressive formation, like “whoosh.”

What does "spruce up" mean?

The verb spruce up means “to make neat or smart in appearance, ” and it first appeared in English around the end of the 1500s. It is related to (and likely comes from) the contemporaneous adjective spruce, which means “neat or smart in appearance.”. The verb and adjective are also related to the tree spruce, though the name for ...

What is the root of spruce?

The word spruce had an older meaning that is the root for all three of the current spruces under consideration. Spruce was one of the English names for the historical area that borders the Baltic Sea and which was known as Prussia.

Is "spruce" a verb or adjective?

The verb and adjective are also related to the tree spruce, though the name for the tree shows up in print after the verb and adjective do. 'Spruce' isn't just a tree—it's a historical name for Prussia.

What does "spruce up" mean?

spruce up. To make someone, something, or oneself more tidy, refined, elegant, or stylish. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spruce" and "up.". I think it's time to spruce the house up a bit—it feels a little outdated and disheveled. You don't look so good!

When did the idiom "spruce up" come into existence?

Make neat and trim, as in She spruced up the chairs with new cushions. This idiom originated in the late 1500s as simply spruce but had acquired up by 1676.

What does "spring" mean in the dictionary?

spring to mind. spring to/into life/action. spring up. spring up like mushrooms. springes to catch woodcocks. springing. sprinkle. sprinkle (someone or something) with (something) sprinkle on.

What does "spruce up" mean?

In 20th century America, the term 'spruce-up' took on a new lease of life, with a slightly modified meaning. It began to be used there to mean 'tidy-up; refurbish' - a counterpart to the English 'Spring-clean'. Up until then 'sprucing-up' had been reserved for people and their clothes.

What is a spruce up?

Spruce-up is just a little phrase, and is nothing to do with sweeping with spruce brooms, as some have suggested. It has taken quite a journey to get to us in its present state. The state it started from was Prussia. The 14th century word spruce is a variant of Pruce, which was itself a shortened version of Prussia.

What is the meaning of the word "spruce"?

The 14th century word spruce is a variant of Pruce, which was itself a shortened version of Prussia. Originally, things that were spruce were those items brought from Prussia; for example, spruce fir trees and, more to the point for this phrase, spruce leather. From the end of the 16th century, spruce was used as a verb meaning 'to make trim ...

When was the term "spruce up" first used?

The first mention of 'sprucing-up' comes in Sir George Etherege's Restoration drama The Man of Mode, 1676: "I took particular notice of one that is alwaies spruc'd up with a deal of dirty Sky-colur'd Ribband.". In 20th century America, the term 'spruce-up' took on a new lease of life, with a slightly modified meaning.

What does "spruced up" mean?

The phrase all spruced up is an old expression that can mean cleaned up, refurbished, or dressed nicely. It is often used as a compliment to tell someone that they look very nice.

Where does the word "spruce" come from?

Many people think this idiom relates to the spruce tree. However, the word spruce comes from Middle English and developed from the now obsolete word pruce, which meant Prussia.

Is "spruced up" an adjective?

All spruced up is used an adjective phrase, but it can also be found in its verb form spruce up.

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1.Spruce up Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spruce%20up

10 hours ago Definition of spruce up. : to make (someone or something) look cleaner, neater, or more attractive We spruced up the room with a fresh coat of paint. I need to spruce myself up a …

2.Spruce up - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

Url:https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/spruce+up

11 hours ago spruce someone or something up. 1. Lit. to tidy up and groom someone or something. Laura's mother took a few minutes to spruce her daughter up for the party. She spruced up her room …

3.The saying 'Spruce-up' - meaning and origin. - Phrasefinder

Url:https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spruce-up.html

22 hours ago Spruce-up. definition. (idiomatic) To refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance. Fresh paint and some new curtains would do a lot to spruce up …

4.What Does All Spruced Up Mean? - Writing Explained

Url:https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/all-spruced-up

19 hours ago  · Definition of spruce up : to make (someone or something) look cleaner, neater, or more attractive We spruced up the room with a fresh coat of paint. I need to spruce …

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