be window dressing

To have the sole function of making a person or thing look or seem better than they really are. As far as I can tell, this new policy is little more than window dressing to woo new employees. He can dress in all the fancy suits he wants, but it's just window dressing in the end. It won't change the fact that he's a conceited jerk. That addition he's put on the house is just window dressing to distract from old the rest of the house is.

cross-dress

To dress in clothing and accessories typically worn by the opposite sex in one's society or culture. The actor is known for playing multiple parts within his films, often cross-dressing in order to create memorable female characters. How many heterosexual men cross-dress, do you think? Is it common? Because I went to an all-boys' school, some guys obviously had to cross-dress when we put on plays like Romeo and Juliet.

cross-dressing

The act or practice of dressing in clothing and accessories typically worn by the opposite sex in their society or culture. The actor is known for cross-dressing in his films, creating a number of very memorable female characters throughout the years. I wonder how common cross-dressing is among heterosexual men. Because I went to an all-boys' school, some cross-dressing was necessary when we put on plays like Romeo and Juliet.

dress (up) as (someone or something)

1. To wear clothing or accessories that cause one to look like someone or something else. My daughter plans to dress up as Cinderella for Halloween. When we go to the concert, my girls want to dress up as Taylor Swift from all the different eras of her career. Hey, new kid, you can't dress as a senior—only seniors wear the dark gray kilts!

2. To outfit someone or something in clothing or accessories. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "dress" and "up" or "as" (if "up" is not being used). I have a friend who really enjoys dressing her dachshund as different historical figures. She practically dresses her daughter as a porcelain doll! How is that kid supposed to have any fun in ruffly dresses all the time? I'm going to dress my daughter up as Cinderella for Halloween because that's her favorite princess.

dress a/the/(one's) wound

To clean, apply a medical treatment to, and bandage a wound. The nurse here will dress the wound, and then you'll be free to go. Come on, you have to wash your hands before you dress a wound—that's just common sense. I'll do my best to dress your wound, but you'll need proper medical attention soon.

dress down

1. To severely reprimand someone. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dress" and "down." The boss will definitely dress down the person who messed up this report. Mom and Dad dressed me down when I came in after curfew yet again. The teacher dressed us all down for causing such a ruckus while she was out of the classroom.

2. To dress more casually than usual. We're allowed to dress down on Fridays if we don't have any big meetings scheduled. Yeah, we usually wear uniforms, but our teachers are letting us dress down today because we're going on a field trip to the zoo. A: "Why are you dressed down when you have that big meeting with the CEO scheduled today?" B: "Because I totally forgot about it, that's why!"

See also: down, dress

dress for (someone or something)

1. To wear certain clothes in order to make someone else happy. I'm sorry, Mom, but I'm 25 years old—I can't dress for you anymore! Yeah, I've dressed for boyfriends in the past, but those days are over—I'm not an insecure teenager anymore. A: "How can you stand still having to dress for your parents?" B: "Eh, only for church. I can wear whatever I want otherwise."

2. To wear clothing that is appropriate for a specific occasion or outcome (as in the phrase "dress for success"). You're dressed for a trip to the mall, not a formal event. Please go change. I dressed for success in a suit and tie, but I don't think the recruiter was very impressed with me. You're not dressed for church in an outfit like that! How many times do I have to remind you not to wear jeans?

dress for success

To dress nicely, in the hope of inviting success in a particular area. I dressed for success in a suit and tie, but I don't think the recruiter was very impressed with me. Come on, dress for success for your interview. If you go in wearing street clothes, they'll think you aren't serious about the job. When I have to give a big presentation like this, I don't dress for success, per se, I dress for confidence.

dress out

1. To put on the clothing or uniform that is suitable or required for an athletic activity. Let's set up camp and then get dressed out for our hike. Even though I wasn't playing that day, the coach still made me dress out for the game. You're dressed out for tennis, I see. I didn't even know you played!

2. To cause, compel, or instruct someone to wear certain clothes for a particular purpose, situation, or activity. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "dress" and "out." The guards dressed me out in prison clothes and sent me off to my cell. She made sure to dress the children out in their best clothes for church. Mom always dressed us out in life jackets when we would go on the boat as kids.

3. To butcher or partially butcher the carcass of a fish, fowl, or other animal in order to preserve the meat for sale or consumption. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dress" and "out." I know it's unpleasant work, but if you don't dress it out as soon as it's been killed, the animal's meat will start to spoil very quickly. We sat on the shore dressing out the fish we'd caught that morning. She already told you she doesn't want to hunt, so don't expect her to dress out your carcasses with you!

dress ship

To display the flags and ensign on a ship. We need to dress ship for the special occasion taking place tonight. Any time important people are going to come aboard, know that we have to dress ship. Wow, she certainly looks majestic when the sailors dress ship, huh?

dress to impress

cliché To dress in a way that will leave others with a favorable opinion of one. Come on, this is an important job interview, so you've got to dress to impress! Torn jeans and a tee shirt are not gonna cut it! I take a lot of pride in my appearance when I'm at the office. I make sure my hair and makeup are on point, and I always dress to impress. She certainly dressed to impress for the wedding, wearing a gorgeous full-length gown.

dress to kill

To dress in extravagantly fancy or stylish clothes so as to thoroughly impress others. Mary always dresses to kill, so she turns heads wherever she goes. The chairman of the board will be there tonight, so be sure you dress to kill! Come on, this is an important job interview, so you've got to dress to kill! Torn jeans and a tee shirt are not gonna cut it!

dress to the hilt

To dress in a very formal or extravagant outfit, possibly one so ostentatious or grandiose as to be inappropriate. She dressed to the hilt for the wedding, wearing a gorgeous full-length gown with a large hat, a giant feather boa, and rhinestone-encrusted gloves. Tom is a quirky guy. He always dresses to the hilt, no matter where we're going or what we're doing. Like, we went to get burgers yesterday, and he came in a three-piece suit. Yeah, he's a bit overeager if he's dressed to the hilt just to interview for an internship.

dress up

1. To dress formally, perhaps more formally than usual. You need to dress up for this event tonight—a suit and tie would be appropriate. I dressed up for the birthday party and was embarrassed to find all of the other guests in shorts and T-shirts. The chairman of the board will be there tonight, so everyone needs to dress up, OK?

2. To wear attire that is appropriate for a specific occasion. It takes the kids forever to get dressed up for hockey practice, what with all the pads and layers of clothes they need to put on. You're dressed up for tennis, I see. I didn't even know you played! A: "I can't go on a hike, I'm not dressed up for that!" B: "Oh, I see now that you're wearing flip-flops."

3. To improve or attempt to improve the appearance of something by decorating or embellishing it. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dress" and "up." Don't worry, a fresh coat of paint will dress this room up. Don't try to dress it up, Mom—my crush completely rejected me. Aunt Jane, it's hard to dress up a rejection from your dream school. Scotty's gonna be depressed about it for a while—there's no way around it.

4. To wear a costume. My daughter plans to dress up as Cinderella for Halloween. Just dress up as a cat or something—this Halloween party is just a casual thing. Wait, the teachers were supposed to dress up today too? Dang, what am I going to do?

5. To dress someone or something in a costume. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dress" and "up." I have a friend who really enjoys dressing up her dachshund as different historical figures. She practically dresses her daughter up like a porcelain doll! How is that kid supposed to have any fun in ruffly dresses all the time? I'm going to dress my daughter up as Cinderella for Halloween because that's her favorite princess.

6. noun A children's activity that involves dressing up in costumes. In this usage, the phrase is typically hyphenated. Because my girls love to play dress-up, they regularly emerge from the playroom in feather boas and tiaras. I used to love going to my cousins' house because they had a whole chest of clothes for dress-up. We're playing dress-up, Mommy! Here's a wig and a crown for you!

7. adjective Describing an occasion that requires one to dress in formal or fanciful attire. In this usage, the phrase is typically hyphenated. Tonight's dinner is a dress-up event, so be sure to wear a suit and tie. What costume do you think you'll wear to tonight's dress-up party? A: "I want to have a real dress-up dinner party at my new place." B: "Ugh, can't we just hang out in sweats like we usually do?"

See also: dress, up

dressing-down

A severe reprimand. The person who messed up this report is definitely going to get a dressing-down. Mom and Dad gave me a dressing-down when I came in after curfew yet again. We all got a dressing-down from the teacher for causing such a ruckus while she was out of the classroom.

power dressing

A conservative style of women's dress common in the 1970s and '80s that aimed to project an air of authority and competency in the male-dominated business world. In the'80s, suit jackets with shoulder pads were a staple of power dressing.

window dressing

1. Literally, a decorative display in a window, typically the window of a store. When my mom and I go shopping at Christmastime, we always check out all the pretty holiday window dressings!

2. By extension, something that makes a person or thing look or seem better than it really is. To me, this new policy seems like window dressing to woo new employees. You say that you've changed, but how do I know it's not just window dressing to make you seem like less of a jerk?

dress ( oneself ) up

to dress in fancy dress. They dressed themselves up in their finest. Please dress up for the dance.

See also: dress, up

dress someone down

to bawl someone out; to give someone a good scolding. The drill sergeant dressed down the entire squadron for failing inspection. I'm really late. I know my parents will dress me down when I get home.

See also: down, dress

dress someone or something up

to make someone or something appear fancier than is actually so. The publicity specialist dressed the actress up a lot. They dressed up the hall so it looked like a ballroom.

See also: dress, up

dress someone or something up (in something)

to clothe, decorate, or ornament someone or something in something. She dressed her dolls up in special clothing. She dressed up her dolls in tiny outfits.

See also: dress, up

dress someone up (as someone or something )

to dress someone to look like or impersonate someone or something. She dressed her little girl up as a witch for Halloween. She dressed up her little girl as a fairy.

See also: dress, up

dressing-down

a harsh scolding. The boss gave the entire sales crew a powerful dressing-down for missing their forecast.

dress down

1. Scold, reprimand, as in The sergeant will dress down the entire unit. In the 15th century the verb dress alone was used in the sense of "punish," down being added several centuries later. It also gave rise to the noun dressing down for punishment with blows or words. For example, The teacher gave the girls a severe dressing down.

2. Wear informal clothes, as in It's best to dress down for a party like a barbecue. [Mid-1900s] For the antonym, see dress up.

See also: down, dress

dress up

1. Wear formal or elaborate clothes, as in I love to dress up for a party. [Late 1600s] For the antonym, see dress down, def. 2.

2. Put on a costume of some kind, as in The children love dressing up as witches and goblins. [Late 1800s]

3. Adorn or disguise something in order to make it more interesting or appealing. For example, She has a way of dressing up her account with fanciful details. [Late 1600s]

See also: dress, up

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dress down

1. To scold or reprimand someone: The teacher dressed down the students for arriving to class late. My parents dressed me down for being rude.

2. To wear informal clothes, befitting an occasion or location: I dressed down for the casual party.

See also: down, dress

dress up

1. To clothe someone or something: They dressed their dolls up in outfits they made themselves. The store owner dressed up the mannequin and put it in the window of the store.

2. To wear formal or fancy clothes: The students dressed up and went to the prom.

3. To dress someone in clothes suited for some particular occasion or situation: We dressed up the children for the cold weather. We'll need to dress ourselves up for wet weather. I can see you're dressed up to go hiking.

4. To wear clothes suited for some particular occasion or situation: People usually dress up in white to play tennis.

5. To make something appear more interesting or attractive than it actually is: The real estate agent dressed up the truth about the old house. The story of my trip was pretty boring, so I dressed it up with colorful exaggerations.

See also: dress, up

dress ship

Nautical

To display the ensign, signal flags, and bunting on a ship.

dressing down, a

A punishment, such as a scolding. In the fifteenth century, the verb “dress” was used alone in the sense of “to punish,” and “down” was added a couple of hundred years later. John Lescroart used it in his novel, The Hunt Club (2009), “The dressing down left Hunt literally shaking.” Without the article “a,” to dress down means to wear informal clothes. This usage dates from the mid-1900s.