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
