Spick and span

Definitions

• clean and tidy
  Describe something that is extremely clean and well-organized

• brand new
  Describe something that is newly made or in pristine condition

Examples of Spick and span

• The hotel room was spick and span after the cleaning crew finished.

  This example shows how to use the idiom in a sentence. Spick means spotless or perfectly clean, and span refers to every corner or area of the room. When the cleaning crew finished, the room was completely clean and free of any dirt or clutter.

• She meticulously cleaned the kitchen before dinner, leaving it spick and span.

  In this example, the idiom is used to describe the cleanliness of a specific place, the kitchen. Spick and span signifies that every surface and corner is spotless, with nothing out of place.

• After a long day, he returned home to a spick and span house. His wife had spent the afternoon cleaning and organizing everything.

  Here, the idiom is used to describe the overall cleanliness of the house, indicating that every room and area is tidy and spotless.

• The car salesman showed my husband the spick and span new car model.

  This example showcases how to use the idiom in relation to an object, in this case, a car model. Spick and span describes the pristine condition and newness of the car.

• The kitchen was spick and span after the deep cleaning session.

  The kitchen was perfectly clean and free from any dirt or grime.

• The car was spick and span as the owner had just washed and polished it.

  The car was completely clean and shiny.

• The housekeeper made sure that the entire house was spick and span before leaving at the end of the day.

  The housekeeper ensured that the entire house was immaculately clean and tidy before leaving.

• The hotel room was spick and span, and the sheets and towels were changed every day.

  The hotel room was spotlessly clean, and the bed linens and bath towels were replaced daily for the guests' convenience.

Conclusion

The idiom "spick and span" is often used to describe something that is very clean and tidy, or brand new. It is commonly used to refer to a spotless and well-organized space or an item that is in perfect condition.

Origin of "Spick and span"

The origin of the idiom "spick and span" dates back to the 17th century. The term "spick" originally referred to a spike or nail, while "span" referred to a wooden chip. In this context, "spick and span" was used to describe a ship that was brand new and had all its spikes and wooden chips intact, indicating that it was in pristine condition. Over time, the phrase evolved to also describe something that is clean and tidy, reflecting the idea of something being new and well-kept. Today, the idiom is commonly used in everyday language to emphasize the cleanliness or newness of something. For example, "She always keeps her house spick and span" or "The car looked spick and span after it was washed."