Idioms for pretty
- in an advantageous position.
- well-to-do; successful.
sitting pretty, Informal.
Origin of pretty
before 1000; Middle English
prati(e),
pratte, prettie cunning, gallant, fine, handsome, pretty; Old English
prættig, prettī cunning, derivative of
prǣtt a trick, wile (cognate with Dutch
part, pret trick, prank, Old Norse
prettr trick,
prettugr tricky)
synonym study for pretty
1. See
beautiful.
usage note for pretty
The qualifying adverb
pretty, meaning “fairly or moderately” has been in general use since the late 16th century. Although most common in informal speech and writing, it is far from restricted to them, and often is less stilted than alternatives such as
relatively, moderately, and
quite.
OTHER WORDS FROM pretty
Words nearby pretty
Definition for sitting pretty (2 of 2)
sitting
[ sit-ing ]
/ ˈsɪt ɪŋ /
noun
adjective
British Dictionary definitions for sitting pretty (1 of 2)
Derived forms of pretty
prettily, adverb prettiness, nounWord Origin for pretty
Old English
prættig clever; related to Middle Low German
prattich obstinate, Dutch
prettig glad, Old Norse
prettugr cunning
British Dictionary definitions for sitting pretty (2 of 2)
sitting
/ (ˈsɪtɪŋ) /
noun
adjective
Cultural definitions for sitting pretty
sitting pretty
In a favorable position: “Abby finally got that promotion, and now she's sitting pretty.”
Idioms and Phrases with sitting pretty (1 of 2)
sitting pretty
In an advantageous position; also, financially well off. For example, The terms of the will left Mary sitting pretty. Although the use of pretty in the sense of “advantageous” is much older, this colloquialism dates only from the early 1900s. It was given extra currency as the title of two different musicals, Sittin' Pretty (M. Moore, 1921) and Sitting Pretty (G. Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, 1924).
Idioms and Phrases with sitting pretty (2 of 2)
pretty