dressed to the nines

From dressed +‎ to the nines; first recorded in the 1800s.

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dressed to the nines (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Very fancily or formally dressed; wearing very showy or splendid clothing.

   He arrived at the gala, dressed to the nines in his top hat and tails.

   • 1846, Alexander Kerr Bonn, An Original, Laughable and Comical Tale of Hughie Morrison, the Scottish Emigrant, page 20:

     During the early part of the day he took a stroll in the vicinity of "Fell's Point," dressed to the nines, with his cravat, and pin, and shirt collar neatly folded over.

   • 1976, Tim Rice, Don't Cry For Me Argentina:

     All you will see is a girl you once knew, although she's dressed up to the nines, at sixes and sevens with you.

• dressed to kill
• Sunday best
• to the nines

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Dressed to the nines”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.
• Today I Found Out - Where the Expression 'Dressed to the Nines' Came From