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shipshape
/ˈʃɪp.ʃeɪp/
neat and tidy
After spending the whole afternoon cleaning, the house was finally shipshape.
The house was clean and well-organized after hours of work.
informal
Clean, tidy, and in good order
The workshop is always shipshape before the inspector arrives.
The workshop is always neat and tidy before inspections.
She keeps her desk shipshape to avoid losing important documents.
She maintains an organized desk to prevent misplacing documents.
Often used to describe physical spaces, but can also refer to systems, plans, or personal appearance.
Collocations
shipshape and Bristol fashionperfectly neat and orderlykeep something shipshapemaintain something in good order
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'shipshape'
While 'shipshape' is vivid, it can sound overly nautical or old-fashioned in modern speech. Use 'neat' or 'tidy' for everyday contexts.
Gold Rule
Use 'shipshape' for emphasis
Reserve 'shipshape' for situations where you want to emphasize extreme neatness or order, not just general tidiness.
Word Origin
From the nautical phrase 'ship-shape,' referring to a ship being properly rigged and ready for sailing. First recorded in the late 18th century.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in informal contexts. Avoid using in formal writing unless quoting a nautical context.
Word Breakdown
ship
related to ships or nautical order
rootshape
condition or arrangement
rootEnglish Dictionary