1
general::
Phrase(s): dress (oneself) up
to dress in fancy dress. • They dressed themselves up in their finest. • Please dress up for the dance., Phrase(s): 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., Phrase(s): 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.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
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]
American Heritage Idioms