spick-and-span

adjective

ˌspik-ən(d)-ˈspan 

ˌspik-ᵊŋ-

variants or spic-and-span

1

: fresh, brand-new

2

: spotlessly clean

Synonyms

• antiseptic
• chaste
• clean
• fair
• immaculate
• pristine
• spotless
• squeaky-clean
• stainless
• unsoiled
• unstained
• unsullied

Examples of spick-and-span in a Sentence

let's make the house spick-and-span for our visitors

a spick-and-span waffle iron that our host was obviously using for the first time

Recent Examples on the Web

Neglecting The Kitchen Sink Your sink may look spick-and-span, but looks can be deceiving. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024

In the otherwise ramshackle dusty town, sits nestled a spick-and-span health clinic run by the Catholic Daughters of Saint Anne. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2016

This compound has antimicrobial properties that leave your grill spick-and-span. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 June 2023

Courteney Cox is keeping her Walk of Fame star — and those belonging to her famous friends — spick-and-span! —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2023

That’s where this spick-and-span guide comes in. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 19 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

short for spick-and-span-new, from obsolete English spick spike + English and + span-new

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spick-and-span

adjective

variants or spic-and-span

ˌspik-ən-ˈspan

1

: quite new and unused

2

: very clean and neat

kept the cabin spick-and-span