Prim
adjective
Formal and reserved in manner.
She gave him a prim smile.
Often appears as...
- prim and proper
- prim little
verb
To make oneself or something appear dignified and respectable.
She primmed her hair before the meeting.
Often appears as...
- prim up
- prim oneself
adjective
Very precise and formal.
Her prim manners distinguish her from others.
Often appears as...
- prim attention
- prim behaviour
adjective
Formal and reserved in manner.
She gave him a prim smile.
Often appears as...
- prim and proper
- prim little
verb
To make oneself or something appear dignified and respectable.
She primmed her hair before the meeting.
Often appears as...
- prim up
- prim oneself
adjective
Very precise and formal.
Her prim manners distinguish her from others.
Often appears as...
- prim attention
- prim behaviour
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Stereotype
The term 'prim and proper' often denotes an outdated or conservative style, potentially overly strict.
Her grandmother's prim attire made her look as if she had come from another era.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Distance
'Prim' can imply that a person is not very warm or approachable, due to their formality.
Despite his prim demeanor, he's very kind once you get to know him.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Impression
When describing appearance, 'prim' suggests neatness and simplicity, avoiding flamboyance.
The job interview called for a prim suit, rather than a flashy ensemble.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Stereotype
The term 'prim and proper' often denotes an outdated or conservative style, potentially overly strict.
Her grandmother's prim attire made her look as if she had come from another era.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Distance
'Prim' can imply that a person is not very warm or approachable, due to their formality.
Despite his prim demeanor, he's very kind once you get to know him.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Impression
When describing appearance, 'prim' suggests neatness and simplicity, avoiding flamboyance.
The job interview called for a prim suit, rather than a flashy ensemble.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Stereotype
The term 'prim and proper' often denotes an outdated or conservative style, potentially overly strict.
Her grandmother's prim attire made her look as if she had come from another era.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Distance
'Prim' can imply that a person is not very warm or approachable, due to their formality.
Despite his prim demeanor, he's very kind once you get to know him.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Impression
When describing appearance, 'prim' suggests neatness and simplicity, avoiding flamboyance.
The job interview called for a prim suit, rather than a flashy ensemble.
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Video examples
The Community of Food PIPE...
and I call up my fish purveyor and I was like, 'Michael, what exactly did you send me?' My language was of course perfectly gentlemanly, proper and prim. And he said, "Well, you know, we had a bad day of fishing but, you know, I didn't want to leave you in the lurch, so, we just sent you all the left over bait.
Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
You give it a push, this becomes a parallelogram. But this is very shaky. Look at the pentagon, for instance, pull this out -- it becomes a boat shape trapezium. Push it and it becomes house shaped. This becomes an isosceles triangle -- again, very shaky. This square might look very square and prim.
Video examples
The Community of Food PIPE...
and I call up my fish purveyor and I was like, 'Michael, what exactly did you send me?' My language was of course perfectly gentlemanly, proper and prim. And he said, "Well, you know, we had a bad day of fishing but, you know, I didn't want to leave you in the lurch, so, we just sent you all the left over bait.
Video examples
Turning trash into toys...
You give it a push, this becomes a parallelogram. But this is very shaky. Look at the pentagon, for instance, pull this out -- it becomes a boat shape trapezium. Push it and it becomes house shaped. This becomes an isosceles triangle -- again, very shaky. This square might look very square and prim.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Katherine McNamara
American Actress
A woman can be demure, lady-like and the most prim and proper character, and still have a toughness and resiliency as apparent as a superhero-type female character or a warrior or soldier type. It's all about the story, the character, and the course of events in that piece of work and how that character is presented.
Quote examples
Sophie Turner
British Actress
Some days I want to look like a hipster kid, and then other days I want to be prim and proper. I really wish I had, like, seven lives so I could go from being a hipster one day to a punk the next. But that's the great thing about fashion. In a way, it's like acting, because you can try on all these different roles.
Quote examples
Honeysuckle Weeks
British Actress
I've had a wonderful time in 'Foyle's War' and I don't mind being typecast. But I'm not prim. I'm chaotic, happy, and desperate to have some laughs. I'd love to do a comedy next, or something modern.
Quote examples
Kimberley Nixon
English Actress
My character in 'Fresh Meat' is quite prim and tidy, and then I basically had no make-up for the whole shoot of 'Kidnap and Ransom' - apart from a bit of Vaseline to make me look even sweatier!
Quote examples
Big Narstie
English Musician
Especially in our industry, everything is so prim and proper; you'll never really see anyone show their sad side, because everyone wants to be perfect.
Quote examples
Divya Khosla Kumar
Indian Actress
Directors usually have an image of being too casual when it comes to fashion. But as a women, it is very important to be prim and proper.
Quote examples
Atif Aslam
Pakistani Musician
Our parents were very prim and proper, but we always got one toy every day. That was a ritual. The money didn't really matter.
Quote examples
Melissa McCarthy
American Actress
Some days, I want to be prim and proper, and others, I want to be in a band.
Quote examples
Nikita Dutta
Indian Actress
I am a control freak. I want everything to be prim and proper.
Quote examples
Georgia Toffolo
English Celebrity
I think people reckon I am prim and proper.
Quote examples
Katherine McNamara
American Actress
A woman can be demure, lady-like and the most prim and proper character, and still have a toughness and resiliency as apparent as a superhero-type female character or a warrior or soldier type. It's all about the story, the character, and the course of events in that piece of work and how that character is presented.
Quote examples
Sophie Turner
British Actress
Some days I want to look like a hipster kid, and then other days I want to be prim and proper. I really wish I had, like, seven lives so I could go from being a hipster one day to a punk the next. But that's the great thing about fashion. In a way, it's like acting, because you can try on all these different roles.
Quote examples
Honeysuckle Weeks
British Actress
I've had a wonderful time in 'Foyle's War' and I don't mind being typecast. But I'm not prim. I'm chaotic, happy, and desperate to have some laughs. I'd love to do a comedy next, or something modern.
Quote examples
Kimberley Nixon
English Actress
My character in 'Fresh Meat' is quite prim and tidy, and then I basically had no make-up for the whole shoot of 'Kidnap and Ransom' - apart from a bit of Vaseline to make me look even sweatier!
Quote examples
Big Narstie
English Musician
Especially in our industry, everything is so prim and proper; you'll never really see anyone show their sad side, because everyone wants to be perfect.
Quote examples
Divya Khosla Kumar
Indian Actress
Directors usually have an image of being too casual when it comes to fashion. But as a women, it is very important to be prim and proper.
Quote examples
Atif Aslam
Pakistani Musician
Our parents were very prim and proper, but we always got one toy every day. That was a ritual. The money didn't really matter.
Quote examples
Melissa McCarthy
American Actress
Some days, I want to be prim and proper, and others, I want to be in a band.
Quote examples
Nikita Dutta
Indian Actress
I am a control freak. I want everything to be prim and proper.
Quote examples
Georgia Toffolo
English Celebrity
I think people reckon I am prim and proper.
Example 1 of 10
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