doll

(all) dolled up

Nicely groomed and well dressed, especially in comparison to one's usual appearance. I got all dolled up for my date, and then he canceled on me at the last minute. Why are you all dolled up today? Are you going out after work? Laura got dolled up for History today, which makes me think there must be a cutie in her class.
See also: doll, up

a living doll

1. A strikingly beautiful infant or young child, especially a girl. Have you seen Mike and Jennifer's baby girl? Oh my gosh, she's a living doll! You should really think about getting your daughter into commercials because she is just a living doll! Look at how cute your mom was as a baby. Truly, a living doll!
2. Someone who is especially considerate, attentive, and amiable. A: "I can't believe Maureen dropped off freshly baked cookies for us!" B: "I know, she is just a living doll." Thank you so much for giving us a place to stay. You're a living doll. A: "Oh, and I got your 8 AM meeting pushed to 11 tomorrow." B: "You're a living doll, Kristine! Thank you, I definitely need that extra time to prepare."
See also: doll, living

baby doll

A term of affection for one's romantic partner. Hey, baby doll, any chance you can help me get dinner ready? Aww, thanks, baby doll. This is exactly what I wanted for Valentine's Day! Baby doll! This is a pleasant surprise—what are you doing home so early?
See also: baby, doll

babydoll dress

A knee-length, flowy dress, often one with an empire waist. Often applied to lingerie made in this style. Yesterday, the actress was spotted at a coffee shop looking very cute in a babydoll dress and sneakers. Babydoll dresses like that just never look right on my body type. You can keep your skirts and babydoll dresses—I like more masculine pieces like pants and blazers.
See also: babydoll, dress

Barbie doll

An attractive girl or woman, often one who seems ditzy or vapid. "Barbie" is the name of a popular fashion doll sometimes criticized for focusing too heavily on fashion, material goods, and superficial beauty. A: "Wow, that girl is gorgeous!" B: "Yeah, but have you talked to her? She seems like a real Barbie doll." He's just an average-looking dude, so I was shocked to meet his wife, who's a total Barbie doll! She has the long blonde hair and pouty lips and everything! A: "I have no interest in dating Barbie dolls." B: "Of course not, you're an English professor. You'd much rather date someone you can talk about The Sound and the Fury with."
See also: doll

be (all) dolled up

To be dressed and groomed in a particularly nice or fancy way, especially in comparison to one's usual appearance. I was all dolled up for my date, and then he canceled on me at the last minute. Why are you dolled up like that today? Are you going out after work? Laura was dolled up when she left for History class today, which makes me think there must be a cutie in her class.
See also: doll, up

be a doll

informal
1. To be especially agreeable and helpful. A: "Hey Elaine, I found the files you were looking for." B: "Oh, you're a doll! Thank you!" Hey, be a doll and go get me a cup of coffee. A: "Would you be a doll and sit in this meeting for me?" B: "The boring budget meeting? No thanks."
2. To be cute or otherwise physically attractive. Typically said of small children. A: "Have you seen Pat's daughter? She's a total doll." B: "Oh, I know! And she's walking now too, so look out." Alex's new girlfriend is a doll—and a real sweetheart too. Oh my goodness, look at her in her Christmas dress! She's such a doll.
See also: doll

doll

informal
1. Someone who is especially agreeable and helpful. A: "Hey Elaine, I found the files you were looking for." B: "Oh, what a doll! Thank you, Beatrice!" Hey, be a doll and go get me a cup of coffee. A: "Would you be a doll and sit in this meeting for me?" B: "The boring budget meeting? No thanks."
2. Someone who is cute or otherwise physically attractive. Typically said of small children. A: "Have you seen Pat's daughter? She's a total doll." B: "Oh, I know! And she's walking now too, so look out." Alex's new girlfriend is a doll—and a real sweetheart too. Oh my goodness, look at her in her Christmas dress! She's such a doll.

doll up

1. To groom and dress oneself or someone else nicely, especially in comparison to one's usual appearance. A noun or reflexive pronoun can be used between "doll" and "up." I got all dolled up for my date, and then he canceled on me at the last minute. Why are you dolling yourself up like that today? Are you going out after work? Laura dolled herself up for History today, which makes me think there must be a cutie in her class.
2. To try to make something more appealing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "doll" and "up." You guys really need to doll up this house if you're hoping to sell it for that high a price. Whew, that is sweet! I think she tried to doll up a blah cake with entirely too much chocolate ganache. I knew I had to doll my car up if I wanted to impress these prospective buyers, so I got it professionally cleaned and waxed.
See also: doll, up

get (all) dolled up

1. To dress and groom oneself in a particularly nice or fancy way, especially in comparison to one's usual appearance. I got all dolled up for my date, and then he canceled on me at the last minute. Why are you getting dolled up today? Are you going out after work? Laura got dolled up for History today, which makes me think there must be a cutie in her class.
2. To dress and groom someone else in a particularly nice or fancy way, especially in comparison to their usual appearance. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "(all) dolled up." I don't know why you bother getting the kids dolled up like that. We're just going out for burgers! I've stopped trying to get my husband dolled up for social gatherings. The man seems determined to wear nothing but jeans and polo shirts for the rest of his life. Oh, I warned the parents in advance that it would be a painting birthday party. I didn't want them to get their kids all dolled up for something so messy.
See also: doll, get, up

kewpie doll

A doll with rosy cheeks and big eyes that was often distributed as a prize (at carnivals, for instance) in the 20th century. Look, Mama, I won a kewpie doll playing that game over there!
See also: doll

like a rag doll

Helplessly and without any control over how one is being overpowered, thrashed around, etc. Likened to the floppiness of a rag doll, which is a doll made out of cloth. He tumbled down the hill like a rag doll before coming to rest in a heap down below. The mountain lion took the poor animal in its jaws and shook it around like a rag doll.
See also: doll, like, rag

rag doll

1. noun Literally, a doll made of, and typically stuffed with, cloth. Originally made with scraps as an inexpensive way of making a toy for a child. Because of its floppy limbs, it is often used in similes to describe someone flailing or being thrown around in a violent, overpowering manner. It isn't much to look at, but this rag doll that my grandmother made me while we were at our poorest is one of my most treasured possessions. The dog got ahold of the raccoon and shook the poor thing back and forth like a rag doll.
2. noun A weak, incompetent, or irresolute person. Despite his strong promises during his election campaign, the new president has so far been something of a rag doll when it comes to foreign policy. His boyfriend is a bit of a rag doll, isn't he? Just kind of sits there, going along with whatever Tony wants.
3. verb, slang To crumple into a limp, lifeless form. Sometimes hyphenated. After getting hit in the head, he rag dolled and remained totally motionless for almost a minute. The site of the hiker rag-dolling down the side of the steep hill was horrifying.
4. verb, slang To cause someone to crumple into a limp, lifeless form. Sometimes hyphenated. With one mighty punch, the boxer rag-dolled his opponent and was declared the world champion. The linebacker has become infamous for rag dolling other players with his intense tackles.
See also: doll, rag
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*(all) dolled up

Fig. dressed up and well-groomed. (Usually used of females. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) I have to get all dolled up for the dance tonight.
See also: doll, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

dolled up

Also, all dolled up. Dressed or fixed up smartly and, often, ostentatiously, usually for a special occasion. For example, There's no need to get all dolled up-it's just a picnic, or They dolled up the classroom for parents' night. This expression alludes to a person or object being as attractive as a pretty doll. It is also put verbally, to doll up, as in I wanted to doll up my apartment before the guests arrived. [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see gussied up.
See also: doll, up

rag doll

A limp, ineffectual person, as in You won't get a decision from her; she's a rag doll when it comes to making up her mind . This expression transfers the limpness of a soft doll made from scraps of cloth to human behavior. [Mid-1800s]
See also: doll, rag
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.

like a rag doll

If someone is like a rag doll, they have no strength and cannot control their movements, often because they are being treated violently. He picked the boy up and shook him like a rag doll. I saw a dog throwing a girl around like a rag doll. Note: A `rag doll' is a child's doll made of cloth.
See also: doll, like, rag
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

doll up

v. Slang
1. To dress someone in fancy or ostentatious clothes, especially for a special occasion: The parents dolled up their child in sailor outfits. The costume designer dolled me up in 19th-century clothing. I got all dolled up for the big Halloween party.
2. To add embellishing details to something in order to make it more attractive: I dolled up the boring lecture by adding a lot of jokes. There wasn't much content in the manuscript, so the author had tried to doll it up with interesting stories.
See also: doll, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Barbie doll

n. a pretty, giddy girl or woman. Ask that little Barbie doll if she wants a drink.
See also: doll

doll

1. n. a pretty girl or woman. Who’s the doll I saw you with last night?
2. n. a pill. (Drugs. Usually plural.) Taking dolls is different from shooting up.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

living doll, a

An extremely nice person, amiable and generous. Why a child’s toy should be chosen for this metaphor is not known. Doll alone has meant a young and attractive woman since the mid-1800s, as in Frank Loesser’s hit musical comedy Guys and Dolls (1950). However, the current usage, dating from the 1940s, is applied to individuals of either sex and any age.
See also: living
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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