SINCE 1828
spit and polish
nounDefinition of spit and polish
: extreme attention to cleanliness, orderliness, smartness of appearance, and ceremony often at the expense of operational efficiency
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
10 Common Words with Military Origins
10 Common Words with Military Origins
'Skedaddle', 'ginormous', and more
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The first known use of spit and polish was in 1895
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