zhoosh

present singular third person zhooshes · participle present zhooshing · participle past zhooshed · past zhooshed · alternative jooj · alternative joosh · alternative joozh · alternative juj · alternative jush · alternative juzh · alternative tszuj · alternative zhoozh · alternative zhush · alternative zhuzh

1. AustraliaUKslangtransitiveTo tweak, finesse or improve (something); to make more appealing or exciting. Usually with up.

   Mostly the words are dusted off and brought out when we wish to zhoosh up the conversation, to announce a particular delight in our queenly style.

   1988, Neil Bartlett, Who Was That Man?, →ISBN, page 82

   2 more examples

   Mr. Warburton, a volunteer, swept into the group’s headquarters in the Hotel Pennsylvania, a team of hair stylists in tow, his objective to “zhoosh up” the women’s looks, he said.

   2009 May 27, Ruth La Ferla, “To Dress for Success, You Must Trust His Eye”, in The New York Times

   Christmas dinner is stressful enough without busting out recipes you’ve never made before. That said, if Sue is after a little zhoosh, she might want to consider how she dresses her veg.

   2021 December 21, Anna Berrill, “Final magic touches to zhoosh your Christmas lunch”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: spice, spruce, sweeten

comparative more zhoosh · superlative most zhoosh · alternative jooj · alternative joosh · alternative joozh · alternative juj · alternative jush · alternative juzh · alternative tszuj · alternative zhoozh · alternative zhush · alternative zhuzh

1. South Africaslangstylish, hot, cool

   For quotations using this term, see Citations:zhoosh.

   Synonyms: à la mode, chic, trendy, a la mode/à la mode, all the rage, chic, sassy, cool

plural zhooshes · alternative jooj · alternative joosh · alternative joozh · alternative juj · alternative jush · alternative juzh · alternative tszuj · alternative zhoozh · alternative zhush · alternative zhuzh

1. slanguncountableusuallyStyle, glamor (especially in regard to clothing).

   Thank you for your happiness and your eternal Bona-ness and zhoosh.

   2016 June 7, Tilda Swinton, quotee, “Tilda Swinton Shared A Moving Tribute To David Bowie At The CFDAs”, in Elle

   2 more examples

   I grew up in a rain-lashed industrial town near London. Glamour and excitement were thin on the ground. The Swinging Sixties had yet to swing. No telly, no luxuries, no zhoosh. Except at Christmas time. Once a year, the local department store would festoon the window displays with twinkly lights and fake garland.

   2020 June 18, Simon Doonan, “Let's Return to the Exuberance of Window Shopping”, in Town & Country

   Beyond the zhoosh, spangle and splendour, there’s substance to the development too.

   2022 January 21, “The Monocle Minute”, in Monocle, archived from the original on 24 Jan 2025

   Synonyms: dash, flamboyance, panache, swagger, verve

present singular third person zhooshes · participle present zhooshing · participle past zhooshed · past zhooshed · alternative jooj · alternative joosh · alternative joozh · alternative juj · alternative jush · alternative juzh · alternative tszuj · alternative zhoozh · alternative zhush · alternative zhuzh

1. informaltransitiveTo blend ingredients together using an electric food mixer.

   Throw it all in a blender and zhoosh it until it's creamy smooth.

   Synonyms: blitz

plural zhooshes · alternative jooj · alternative joosh · alternative joozh · alternative juj · alternative jush · alternative juzh · alternative tszuj · alternative zhoozh · alternative zhush · alternative zhuzh

1. informalThe action of mixing ingredients using an electric food mixer; a pulse of mixing.

   Give the eggs and milk a quick zhoosh in the blender.