The phrasal verb "dress up as" is primarily used in informal speech and is commonly encountered in social and familial contexts, particularly revolving around events like costume parties, Halloween, and theatrical performances. It indicates the action of wearing clothes and accessories meant to imitate or represent a particular character or figure. Usage-wise, "dress up as" conveys not only the act of putting on a costume but also implies an element of role-playing or embodying the persona of the character chosen. This phrasal verb is rarely used in formal writing or discourse due to its playful and casual connotations. It is versatile in usage across both spoken and written forms when detailing or planning themed events, and often appears in conversations involving children, as dressing in costumes is a popular activity among them.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To wear a costume or special clothes to look like someone or something else, often for a party or event.
I want to dress up as a pirate for the Halloween party.
The kids dressed up as their favorite superheroes for the school event.
She dressed up as Cleopatra for the charity gala.
For the play, I need to dress up as a medieval knight.
He loves dressing up as famous movie characters for conventions.