prim
/prim/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Excessively proper, formal, or precise: Describes someone who is overly concerned with behaving in a way that is considered correct, often to the point of seeming stiff, prudish, or affected.
- Neat and precise in a fussy way: Describes an appearance or manner that is excessively tidy, orderly, or restrained.
Verb:
- To dress or groom in a stiffly neat and precise manner: To make oneself look prim.
- To purse or tighten one's lips into a thin, disapproving line: To contract one's lips to express primness or disapproval.
- To assume a prim appearance or manner: To behave in an affectedly proper or formal way.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Her prim demeanor made her seem unapproachable at the party.
- He lived in a prim, orderly little house with perfectly trimmed hedges.
- The teacher's prim attitude about language left no room for slang.
Verb:
- She primmed her hair and straightened her collar before the interview.
- He primmed his lips in silent disapproval of the noisy children.
- They prim and preen in front of the mirror, worried about every detail of their appearance.
Advanced Usage
- "prim and proper": A common idiom meaning excessively or affectedly proper, especially in manners or morals.
- She was known in the village as a prim and proper old lady who disapproved of modern music.
Variants and Related Words
- Primly (adverb): In a prim manner.
- She sat primly on the edge of the chair.
- Primness (noun): The quality of being prim.
- The primness of her handwriting matched her personality.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Prudish, straitlaced, priggish, prissy, fussy, demure, proper.
- Verb: Preen, groom, purse (one's lips).
Antonyms
- Adjective: Uninhibited, casual, relaxed, informal, slovenly.
Adjective
- exaggeratedly proper
- my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts
- affectedly dainty or refined
Verb
- dress primly
- contract one's lips
- She primmed her lips after every bite of food
- assume a prim appearance
- They mince and prim