spit and polish
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The filmmaker David Lowery has opted to update it with his own pixie dust: save what’s good, scuttle the rest, and add plenty of spit and polish for a 21st-century shine.
From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2023
It's a song about resilience in the face of adversity, and Shaver promised he'd be a new man: "I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough-edged self, till I get rid of every single flaw."
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2014
Needs more spit and polish … Angela Thorne and John Gordon Sinclair in The Ladykillers at the Vaudeville theatre, London.
From The Guardian • Jul. 10, 2013
"Pullman Porter Blues" starts with the mournful work chant of a railway chain gang, followed by the breezy singing of Pullman porters, as they apply spit and polish to a snazzy sleeper car.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2012
The moment we walked out of the classroom, his cocksure veneer, the spit and polish, would return.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
