6/17/2023 0 Comments Define prim“There’s nothing wrong with being traditional, but I really feel like you dodged a bullet when Rick broke up with you.Once I started talking to her, though, I quickly learned she swears like a sailor!” “She is so soft-spoken that I always assumed she was incredibly prim and proper.What’s it like to date someone that is so prim and proper?” How would you use ‘prim and proper’ in a sentence? Let’s take a look at some examples: Examples of 'Prim and Proper' In Sentences Interestingly, it has started to decline in usage since about 2017. ![]() ‘Proper,’ on the other hand, dates to around 1300 with the meaning “excellent, commendable apt, adapted to some purpose, fit.”įrom the Google Ngram Viewer, we see that ‘prim and proper’ has followed an exponential growth in popularity, first appearing around the 1840s and becoming increasingly popular in the second half of the 20th century. The word is also attested as a noun from around the year 1700, which meant “precise, formal, or stuck-up person.” The precise origin is unknown for the word ‘prim,’ but it is thought it might come from the French word prim, which means “small, delicate, think.” The word prim seems to date back as far as the 1680s, with the meaning “to assume a formal, precise demeanor.” The meaning of “stiffly precise in manners or speech, formal” is dated to 1709. For example, if a person was afraid to go swimming because they didn’t want other people to see them in their swimsuit, a friend might say, “stop being so ‘prim and proper’ and jump in the pool!” Where Does 'Prim and Proper' Come From? This phrase can also be used in an insulting, mocking, or playful way, depending on the context and the tone. If your grandmother is very traditional and would definitely not enjoy such a raucous event, you might say, “thanks, but I don’t think that’s a good idea she’s very ‘prim and proper.’” When you tell your friend that you can’t go because your grandmother is visiting, your friend might suggest that it would be fun to bring her along. The definition of the word ‘prim’ is “respectable and stiffly formal showing or feeling disapproval of anything that is regarded as improper.” The American English definition of the word ‘proper’ has several definitions, but the applicable meaning is “respectable, especially excessively so respecting or according to recognized conventions or social standards.”įor example, let’s say that your grandmother is in town and your best friend is inviting you to a rock concert. ![]() This type of individual might be easily shocked by anything even remotely rude and always correctly behaved. ‘Prim and proper’ means “straight-laced” or “prudish.” A person who is described as ‘prim and proper’ is typically someone that has very morally conservative, traditional behaviors and beliefs. ![]() Other Ways to Say 'Prim and Proper' What Does 'Prim and Proper' Mean?
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