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spick-and-span

Clean, spotless; original sense "like new".

Etymology:

  • From spick-and-span-new, from spick + Middle English span-new, from Old Norse span-nyr, from spann + nyr. Imitation of Dutch spiksplinter nieuw , for a freshly built ship. Observe that fresh woodchips are firm and light, but decay and darken rapidly, hence the origin of the term.
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“

I mopped up the kitchen floor so it was spick-and-span.

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Submitted on July 07, 2010

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to spick-and-span

so-and-sostand up and be countedsow the wind and reap the whirlwindsong and danceSpick and Spanspeak of the devil and he shall appearspread your wings and soar beyond the s…sticks and stones may break my bones, b…straighten up and fly rightSpare the Rod and Spoil the Childso-and-sostand up and be countedsquad and blatherstraight and narrow

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