{"id":2017,"date":"2022-03-03T17:56:18","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T17:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=2017"},"modified":"2022-03-03T17:56:18","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T17:56:18","slug":"dressed-to-the-nines-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/dressed-to-the-nines-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Dressed to the Nines \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did your girlfriend tell you she\u2019s \u201cdressing to the nines<\/em>\u201d for your birthday dinner tonight? What does she mean? This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re \u201cdressed to the nines<\/em>,\u201d it means that you are looking above and beyond what is expected of your appearance in a stylish way. People around you stop and turn to admire your look.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can think of it as \u201clooking like perfection.\u201d<\/em> Typically, the phrase will describe someone with an elegant and appealing look, such as dressing to the nines<\/em> to attend the opera. However, the term also suits an ironic or sarcastic use in some cases.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cLook at Cindy, she dressed to the nines <\/em>for the occasion. She looks fantastic; I\u2019m going to go say hi and try my luck with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreg and Jake dressed to the nines<\/em> for the press conference. They are all about showing their image of being rich and successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe dressed to the nines<\/em> for the high school reunion. We should have known better; everyone else was in shorts and t-shirts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to come dressed to the nines<\/em> for the wedding. I want to look good in the photos so that the folks remember me like that forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome to the event dressed to the nines,<\/em> or you can clean out your desk on Monday and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the expression \u201cdressed to the nines<\/em>\u201d comes from the mid-19th century. The phrase derives from the old Scottish mythology surrounding the \u201cNine Muses<\/em>\u201d or \u201cNine Worthies<\/em>.\u201d Coincidentally, this is the source of the expression, \u201cyou\u2019re my muse.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The muse was a perfect source of artistic expression. They would often take the form of a beautiful woman dressed in appealing garments. Thus, the meaning of the phrase \u201cdressed to the nines<\/em>\u201d stems from a good-looking goddess.<\/p>\n

The phrase appears in Scottish poetry describing a well-dressed woman. The Epistle to Ramsay<\/em>, published in 1719 by Scottish poet William Hamilton, pens it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bonny Lines therein thou sent me,<\/em><\/p>\n

How to the nines they did content me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Therefore, \u201cdressed to the nines<\/em>\u201d is an adaptation of the Scottish, \u201cto the nines<\/em>.\u201d The earliest written evidence in literature is in the 18th century by poet Robert Burns.<\/p>\n

\u201cThough paints auld nature to the nines,<\/em><\/p>\n

In thy sweet Caledonian lines<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n