spick-and-span
/ˌspik-ən(d)-ˈspan ˌspik-ᵊŋ-/ (ame, mw)
spick-and-span — 慣用語
1. Describes a room, house, or other space that is both spotlessly clean and perfec
整齊潔淨
形容地方打掃得乾淨且物品擺放整齊
Describes a room, house, or other space that is both spotlessly clean and perfectly tidy — every item put away, every surface wiped down, and no clutter in sight.
After scrubbing every corner, Yuna admired her spick-and-span kitchen with a satisfied smile.
Yuna 仔細刷洗每個角落後，滿意地看著她整齊潔淨的廚房。
spick-and-span used predicatively after cleaning a room
Hugo found the hotel bathroom spick-and-span when he checked in late that night.
Hugo 深夜辦理入住時，發現飯店浴室整齊潔淨。
Bao's grandmother insists the whole flat be spick-and-span before any visitors arrive.
Bao 的祖母堅持在客人來訪前，整間公寓必須整理得整齊潔淨。
The volunteers left every room in the community centre spick-and-span after the weekend fair.
週末市集結束後，志工們把社區中心每個房間都收拾得整齊潔淨。
Even with three young children, Jack keeps the living room spick-and-span throughout the day.
即使有三個年幼的孩子，Jack 還是讓客廳整天保持整齊潔淨。
- immaculate
more formal; suggests flawless perfection, often used for clothing or appearance
- pristine
emphasises an untouched, original state rather than the result of cleaning
- spotless
focuses narrowly on the absence of any marks or dirt, without the sense of tidiness
文法句型
be + spick-and-span
leave/keep + something + spick-and-span
用法筆記
This is the most common modern meaning of the phrase. It is used especially of indoor spaces — rooms, flats, kitchens. Distinguish from the older sense 'brand-new' (adjective/2), which describes an unused object rather than a clean one.
spick-and-span — 形容詞
1. Describes something that has been washed, scrubbed, or polished so thoroughly th
一塵不染
清洗或整理到完全沒有髒污的狀態
Describes something that has been washed, scrubbed, or polished so thoroughly that no dirt, marks, or stains remain anywhere on it.
Zayd spent the morning polishing his car until every panel was spick-and-span.
Zayd 花了一整個早上擦車，直到每個車身面板都一塵不染。
spick-and-span describing a vehicle after thorough cleaning
The nurse checked that every steel instrument was spick-and-span before the morning surgery.
護理師檢查每件鋼製器械，確認在上午手術前都一塵不染。
spick-and-span in a medical or professional context
Felipe lifted each spick-and-span plate from the drying rack and set it on the table, ready for the family dinner.
Felipe 從晾碗架上拿起一塵不染的盤子，擺上餐桌準備家庭晚餐。
Hoa spent an hour scrubbing the kitchen tiles until they were spick-and-span under the light.
Hoa 花了一小時刷洗廚房磁磚，直到它們在燈光下也一塵不染。
The windows looked spick-and-span after Romi cleaned them with vinegar and old newspaper.
Romi 用醋和舊報紙擦完窗戶後，窗戶看起來一塵不染。
- spotless
near-synonym; spotless focuses purely on absence of marks, while spick-and-span adds a sense of freshness and order
- gleaming
emphasises the visual shine from cleaning, rather than the thoroughness of the job
- immaculate
more formal; often used for clothing, appearance, or professional settings
文法句型
be/look/keep + spick-and-span
spick-and-span + noun
用法筆記
The most common modern meaning. The subject is usually a surface, room, vehicle, or object that can be cleaned. Distinguish from adjective/2 (BRAND-NEW), which describes something unused rather than something cleaned.
2. Describes an object that is in the exact condition of having just been made or b
嶄新
全新且未使用過的狀態
Describes an object that is in the exact condition of having just been made or bought — completely unused, with no signs of wear.
The shop window displayed a spick-and-span bicycle that had never touched the road.
櫥窗裡展示著一輛從未上路過的嶄新自行車。
attributive use: spick-and-span + manufactured item
Tanvi unwrapped the spick-and-span notebook, breathed in the fresh-paper smell, and opened it to page one.
Tanvi 拆開嶄新的筆記本，聞了聞新紙的氣味，翻開第一頁。
Everything in the new clinic was spick-and-span, from the beds to the waiting-room chairs.
新開的診所裡一切都很嶄新，從病床到候診椅都是。
Lukas found a spick-and-span copy of the novel, as if no one had ever opened it.
Lukas 在市場找到一本嶄新的小說，彷彿從未有人翻閱過。
- worn
showing clear signs of use
- shabby
in poor condition from long use
- dilapidated
in a state of disrepair, far beyond merely used
文法句型
spick-and-span + noun
用法筆記
This is the older, less common meaning. Most modern speakers use spick-and-span to mean 'perfectly clean' (adjective/1). This sense survives mainly in descriptions of collectibles, antiques, and second-hand items found in surprisingly good condition.