shipshape
word
Definition
Neat, tidy, and well-organized; in excellent order. Often used to describe something that looks clean and orderly, like a room or a place.
Usage & Nuances
'Shipshape' is informal and most often used as an adjective after verbs like 'be', 'look', and 'keep' (e.g., 'keep it shipshape'). It originally refers to the tidiness of ships, but now applies to anything neat and orderly. Sometimes appears as 'shipshape and Bristol fashion' for emphasis.
Example Sentences
The kitchen is clean and shipshape.
basic
Everything in his desk is shipshape.
basic
My room looks shipshape after I cleaned it.
basic
It took us hours to get the garage shipshape before the guests arrived.
natural
She always keeps her files shipshape so she can find them easily.
natural
By the time the inspector arrived, everything was shipshape and ready.
natural