spick-and-span

spick-and-span
adjective
1. conspicuously new
-

shiny brand-new shoes

-

a spick-and-span novelty

• Syn: ↑brand-new, ↑bran-new, ↑spic-and-span
• Similar to: ↑new
• Derivationally related forms: ↑brand-newness (for: ↑brand-new)
2. completely neat and clean
-

the apartment was immaculate

-

in her immaculate white uniform

-

a spick-and-span kitchen

-

their spic red-visored caps

• Syn: ↑immaculate, ↑speckless, ↑spic-and-span, ↑spic, ↑spick, ↑spotless
• Similar to: ↑clean
• Derivationally related forms: ↑spotlessness (for: ↑spotless), ↑immaculateness (for: ↑immaculate)

* * *

I. adjective or spic-and-span \\|spikən|span, -kəŋ|-, -paa(ə)n\; also spick-and-span-new \\| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\
Etymology: spic-and-span alteration of spick-and-span, short for spick-and-span-new, from obsolete English spick spike, nail (alteration of English spike) (I) + English and + span-new
1. : quite new : fresh, brand-new

a spick-and-span novelty

2. : like new : spotlessly clean : spruce

his cottage was spick-and-span — J.B.Clayton

a spick-and-span figure in his Panama hat and neat clothes — G.K.Chesterton

automobile owner who likes to keep his car spick-and-span — New Yorker

Synonyms: see neat
II. adverb or spic-and-span \\“\
: in a spick-and-span manner

clean the kitchen spick-and-span

* * *

/spik"euhn span"/, adj.
1. spotlessly clean and neat: a spick-and-span kitchen.
2. perfectly new; fresh.
adv.
3. in a spick-and-span manner.
[1570-80; short for spick-and-span-new, alliterative extension of SPAN-NEW]

* * *

spick-and-span «SPIHK uhn SPAN», adjective.
1. neat and clean; spruce or smart; trim: »

a spick-and-span room, apron, or uniform.

2. fresh or new; brand-new.
╂[short for earlier spick-and-span-new new as a recently made spike and chip; spick, variant of spike1; span-new < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic spān-n < spānn chip + n new)]

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['spik ən 'span]
(also spic-and-span) adj. spotlessly clean and well looked after

spick-and-span shining bathrooms

Origin:
late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘brand new’): from spick and span new, emphatic extension of dialect span new, from Old Norse spán-nýr, from spánn ‘chip’ + nýr ‘new’; spick influenced by Dutch spiksplinternieuw, literally ‘splinter new’

* * *

↑spic-and-span

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spick and span — Spick Spick, n. [Cf. Sw. spik. See {Spike} a nail.] A spike or nail. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster] {Spick and span}, quite new; that is, as new as a spike or nail just made and a chip just split; brand new; as, a spick and span novelty. See {Span… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spick-and-span — [spik′ n span′] adj. [short for spick and span new < spick, var. of SPIKE1 + SPAN NEW < ME spon neowe < ON spān nȳr < spānn, a chip, shaving + nȳr,NEW] 1. new or fresh 2. neat and clean …   English World dictionary

  • spick and span — spic and span [ˌspık ən ˈspæn] adj [not before noun] informal a room, house etc that is spick and span is completely clean and tidy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • spick and span — (also spic and span) ► ADJECTIVE ▪ neat, clean, and well looked after. ORIGIN originally in the sense «brand new»: from spick and span new, from Old Norse words meaning chip + new ; also influenced by Dutch spiksplinternieuw splinter new …   English terms dictionary

  • spick and span — If a room is spick and span, it is very clean and tidy …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • spick-and-span — spick and span·ness; spick and span; …   English syllables

  • spick and span — [ ,spık ən spæn ] adjective INFORMAL very clean and neat …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • spick-and-span — spick and span, *neat, tidy, trim, trig, snug, shipshape Analogous words: *clean, cleanly: fresh, *new Antonyms: filthy …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • spick-and-span — [adj] spotless clean, fresh, gleaming, hygienic, immaculate, neat, polished, pure, sanitary, shining, shipshape, tidy, unsoiled, unstained, untarnished, very clean; concepts 404,621 …   New thesaurus

  • spick-and-span — /spik euhn span /, adj. 1. spotlessly clean and neat: a spick and span kitchen. 2. perfectly new; fresh. adv. 3. in a spick and span manner. [1570 80; short for spick and span new, alliterative extension of SPAN NEW] * * * …   Universalium

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