dicky up
C1 informal separable both
In simple words
To make yourself or something look nicer and tidier.
Literal meaning: To add a 'dicky' (a decorative false shirt-front) and thereby smarten up.
Meanings
1 C1 informal
To smarten up one's appearance or dress more neatly.
"You'd better dicky yourself up before the guests arrive."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Highly regional and dated; associated with Northern British and Australian dialects. Rarely heard in modern speech. Derived from 'dicky' meaning a false shirt-front or smart accessory.
Commonly used with
yourself outfit room hair appearance
Forms
Base
dicky up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dickies up
he/she/it
Past simple
dickied up
yesterday
Past participle
dickied up
have + pp
-ing form
dickying up
continuous
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