- spick and span
- \ \ see SPIKE
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
spick and span
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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 — adjective 1. conspicuously new shiny brand new shoes a spick and span novelty • Syn: ↑brand new, ↑bran new, ↑spic and span • Similar to: ↑new … Useful english dictionary
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
