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dress down
verb
dressed down; dressing down; dresses down
: to reprove severely
: to dress casually especially for reasons of fashion
Synonyms
Examples of dress down in a Sentence
dressed down for boorish behavior at the dance
Recent Examples on the Web
The quilting paired with the corduroy collar and simple button closure makes this an easy jacket to dress up or dress down.
—Carly Totten, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024
Meanwhile, their two sons dressed down, with one wearing a blue button-down shirt and black pants and the other opting for a white shirt and blue jeans.
—Raven Brunner, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2024
The air of importance extends to the unofficial dress code guests seem to follow—suits aren't uncommon, nor are slacks or blazers, though they may be dressed down over mini skirts or paired with sneakers.
—Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2024
One of the more memorable moments came in 1988, when Democrat Lloyd Bentsen, Michael Dukakis’ running mate, dressed down Dan Quayle, the GOP nominee running with George H.W. Bush.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1852, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near dress down
Cite this Entry
“Dress down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dress%20down. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
dress down
verb1
: to criticize severely
2
: to dress casually
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