fancy up

fancy up — phrasal verb

  • fancy upbase form
  • fancies up3rd person singular
  • fancying up-ing form
  • fancied uppast simple

1. to make someone or something look more attractive by adding decorative items, or

1.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to make someone or something look more attractive by adding decorative items, or to put on special or formal clothes for a particular event.

例句

Lakshmi fancied up her plain black dress with silver earrings for the awards ceremony.

fancy up + object with [items] for [occasion]

The cafe had fancied itself up with fairy lights and potted plants for Valentine's Day.

reflexive: fancy itself up

同義詞
  • dress up

    more common; refers specifically to wearing formal or smart clothes, not decorating objects

  • spruce up

    similar register; suggests making neat and tidy rather than adding fancy decoration

  • decorate

    more general and neutral in register; can be used for permanent changes as well

反義詞
  • strip down

    remove decoration or ornamentation

  • dress down

    wear informal or casual clothes instead of formal ones

文法句型

fancy up + noun phrase (object being decorated)

fancy up + reflexive pronoun (fancy oneself up)

fancy up in + clothes (intransitive)

fancy up for + occasion

用法筆記

Informal phrasal verb used especially in British English. Unlike 'decorate', it often implies adding quick or superficial touches rather than making permanent changes. When used transitively without a reflexive pronoun, the object is the thing being decorated (not the person).

常見錯誤

❌I fancied up my new neighbour.' (meaning you liked them)
✅I fancied up the living room with fresh flowers.
💡'fancy up' means to decorate, not to like or find attractive.