pretty oneself up

pretty up

To make someone, something, or oneself appear more visually attractive or appealing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pretty" and "up." My sisters wanted to pretty me up for my date, but I told them I was happy with how I looked. The real estate agent wants us to pretty the house up a bit before we put it on the market. She said she wanted to pretty herself up before going out, but she's been in there for nearly an hour.

See also: pretty, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pretty oneself (or something) up

Rur. to make oneself or something more attractive; to tidy oneself or something up. I tried to pretty myself up for him, but he didn't notice. Let's try to pretty up this room.

See also: pretty, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.