preen oneself

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• preen oneself — CONGRATULATE ONESELF, be pleased with oneself, be proud of oneself, pat oneself on the back, feel self satisfied. → preen …   Useful english dictionary

• preen oneself — congratulate or pride oneself. → preen …   English new terms dictionary

• preen — ► VERB 1) (of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak. 2) devote effort to making oneself look attractive. 3) (preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself. ORIGIN probably related to obsolete prune, from Latin ungere anoint …   English terms dictionary

• preen — v. (formal) (d; refl.) to preen oneself on ( to pride oneself on ) * * * [priːn] (formal) (d; refl.) to preen oneself on ( to pride oneself on ) …   Combinatory dictionary

• preen — verb 1》 (of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak. 2》 (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive. 3》 (preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself. Derivatives preener noun Origin ME: appar. a var. of obs. prune… …   English new terms dictionary

• Preen — Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Preened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Preening}.] [See {Preen}, n.; or cf. {Prune}.] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; said of birds. Derham. [1913 Webster] 2. To trim up, as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• preen — [prēn] vt. [ME preynen, altered (infl. by preonen, to prick with a pin < preon < OE, a pin) < proinen, to PRUNE3] 1. to clean and trim (the feathers) with the beak: said of birds 2. to make (oneself) trim; dress up or adorn (oneself) 3.… …   English World dictionary

• Preen — Preen, v. i. To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well groomed and well dressed. [PJC] 2. To feel proud of one s achievement; to swell or gloat. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• preen — [v] admire and clean oneself beautify, clean, doll up, groom, prettify, pretty, primp, prink, spruce up, tidy; concept 161 …   New thesaurus

• preen´er — preen1 «preen», transitive verb, intransitive verb. 1. to smooth or arrange (the feathers) with the beak, as a bird does: »Past the Ryemeadow s lonely woodland nook Where many a stubble gray goose preens her wing (John Masefield). 2. to dress… …   Useful english dictionary

• preen — preen1 preener, n. /preen/, v.t. 1. (of animals, esp. birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn. 2. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in… …   Universalium