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spit and polish

noun

Definition of spit and polish

: extreme attention to cleanliness, orderliness, smartness of appearance, and ceremony often at the expense of operational efficiency
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Other Words from spit and polish

spit-and-polish adjective

Examples of spit and polish in a Sentence

All the car needs is some spit and polish.

Recent Examples on the Web

 For the 2018 model year, the Range Rover Sport takes what Land Rover does well and puts another level of spit and polish on it. — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "All SUV, all of the time: The Range Rover Sport reviewed," 12 July 2018

First Known Use of spit and polish

1895, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for spit and polish

from the practice of polishing objects such as shoes by spitting on them and then rubbing them with a cloth

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More Definitions for spit and polish

spit and polish

noun

English Language Learners Definition of spit and polish

informal : careful attention to making something clean and polished

See the full definition for spit and polish in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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