Sunday-go-to-meeting

[ suhn-dey-goh-tuh-meet-n, -mee-ting, -dee- ]

/ ˈsʌn deɪˌgoʊ təˈmit n, -ˈmi tɪŋ, -di- /

most presentable; best: Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.

Origin of Sunday-go-to-meeting

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

She used to dress up like a queen, and her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes were the genuine things and genteel all over.

Highlife in New York: a series of letters to Mr. Zephariah Slick, |Ann S. Stephens
Women, young girls, and children predominated, all dressed in their "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes.

The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War, 1861-1865 |Leander Stillwell
Let us hang up pride and glory as our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.

Letters from an Old Railway Official |Charles DeLano Hine
Damn these psalm-singing, Sunday-go-to-meeting soldiers anyhow!

Under Fire |Charles King

I spose those were their best cloes, werent theytheir real, Sunday-go-to-meeting frocks?

The Corner House Girls' Odd Find |Grace Brooks Hill