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Antonyms for spruce up

Grammar : Verb
Spell : sproos
Phonetic Transcription : sprus


Definition of spruce up

Origin :
  • "evergreen tree," 1660s, from spruse (adj.) "made of spruce wood" (early 15c.), literally "from Prussia," from Spruce, Sprws (late 14c.), unexplained alterations of Pruce "Prussia," from an Old French form of Prussia. Spruce seems to have been a generic term for commodities brought to England by Hanseatic merchants (beer, board, leather, see spruce (v.)), and the tree was believed to have come from Prussia.
  • verb make neat, well-groomed
Example sentences :
  • That's why you are become so well-dressed, Horatio; I wondered how you came to spruce up so!
  • Extract from : « Stories of a Western Town » by Octave Thanet
  • I'll shave up an' spruce up jest as soon as I've made my pile.
  • Extract from : « Young Wild West at "Forbidden Pass" » by An Old Scout
  • Spruce up an' tell 'em like-ez-how this air goin' to be a double trick!
  • Extract from : « Polly and Eleanor » by Lillian Elizabeth Roy
  • My ole mistus took me to Sunday school with her and I spruce up in dat hat.
  • Extract from : « Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves. » by Work Projects Administration
  • Bonhag really wanted Cowperwood to spruce up and show what he could do, socially or otherwise.
  • Extract from : « The Financier » by Theodore Dreiser
  • Rooms were obtained at the best hotel in the place, and both Frank and Bart proceeded without delay to spruce up.
  • Extract from : « Frank Merriwell's Triumph » by Burt L. Standish
  • In a pathetic attempt to spruce up, he knotted the red bandanna around his neck and pinched Salzar's slouch hat into a peak.
  • Extract from : « The Flaming Jewel » by Robert W. Chambers
  • The girl had helped "spruce up" Aunt 'Mira long since, so that they could go to church together on Sundays.
  • Extract from : « Janice Day » by Helen Beecher Long
  • As soon as they arrived on board, they were turned over to the steward, who provided them with quarters in which to spruce up.
  • Extract from : « The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam » by John Henry Goldfrap
  • The lake appeared to be inclosed on three sides by amphitheatric mountains, black with spruce up to the gray walls of rock.
  • Extract from : « Tales of lonely trails » by Zane Grey

Synonyms for spruce up

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019