spick-and-span

spick-and-span
or spic-and-span adjective Etymology: short for spick-and-span-new, from obsolete English spick spike + English and + span-new Date: 1665 1. fresh, brand-new 2. spotlessly clean

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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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 — 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

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