1 C1 idiomatic slang
(Australian slang) To dress in a loud, flashy, and tasteless way in order to attract attention.
"He laired up in a bright orange suit and gold chains for the races."
inseparable
lair up
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
(Australian slang) To dress in an ostentatiously flashy, garish, or vulgar manner.
In plain English
To put on very showy, over-the-top, tasteless clothes to get attention.
What does "lair up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To dress in the style of a 'lair' — an Australian slang term for a flashy, poorly-dressed show-off.
Actually means
To put on very showy, over-the-top, tasteless clothes to get attention.
Usage tip
Exclusively Australian slang. Carries a negative, mocking tone. Someone who 'lairs up' is seen as having bad taste despite trying to look impressive. Largely confined to older Australian slang; younger speakers may not use it.
Words that pair with "lair up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
weekend night out races clothes outfit
How to conjugate "lair up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lair up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lairs up
he/she/it
Past simple
laired up
yesterday
Past participle
laired up
have + pp
-ing form
lairing up
continuous
Hear "lair up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lair up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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