1 C1 idiomatic informal
To decorate a building or object with excessive, showy, or cheap ornamentation.
"The developer had gingerbread up the old warehouse with fake Victorian trim that looked ridiculous."
separable
gingerbread up
C1 informal separable transitive
To decorate something with excessive or showy ornamentation, often in a cheap or tasteless way.
In plain English
To add too many decorations to something so that it looks overdone or tacky.
What does "gingerbread up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To decorate something as if covering it in gingerbread — the term comes from the fussy ornamental woodwork on Victorian buildings.
Actually means
To add too many decorations to something so that it looks overdone or tacky.
Usage tip
Rare and largely archaic. Derived from the elaborate decorative woodwork ('gingerbread') on Victorian buildings. Mainly encountered in historical texts or discussions of architecture. Not widely used in modern everyday speech.
Words that pair with "gingerbread up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
facade building design interior style house
How to conjugate "gingerbread up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
gingerbread up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gingerbreads up
he/she/it
Past simple
gingerbreaded up
yesterday
Past participle
gingerbreaded up
have + pp
-ing form
gingerbreading up
continuous
Hear "gingerbread up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "gingerbread up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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