spit and polish
Meaning
A thorough cleaning and shine; also a meticulous, disciplined neatness in appearance or presentation.
Origin
From an old notion of using spit as a handy moisture to help polish boots, metal, or surfaces; it came to mean giving something a rigorous shine and, by extension, a smart, disciplined look (often military).
Notes
Often about making something look sharply clean/neat; can also mean adding finishing touches. Slightly old-fashioned; sometimes associated with military-style smartness.
Examples
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The new manager insisted on a bit of spit and polish before the client tour.
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His shoes were given spit and polish until they shone like mirrors.
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The hotel lobby needed some spit and polish after the busy holiday weekend.
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They put spit and polish on the presentation slides, but the strategy still had gaps.
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With a little spit and polish, the old bike looked almost brand-new.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually a noun phrase: “give it a spit-and-polish” or “with spit-and-polish precision.” Also appears as an attributive adjective (“spit-and-polish inspection”). Hyphenation varies (spit-and-polish).
Synonyms
- shine up
- spruce up
- polish
- smartness
- finishing touches
Antonyms
- neglect
- shabbiness
- sloppiness