Fashion

[NYCLatinaMe]

The Merriam Webster dictionary just added 690 new words and phrases to its dictionary for September 2023. 

One of the new words is the frequently heard on QVC "zhuzh", which until now I did not know how to spell.  The dictionary defines it as "a small improvement, adjustment, or addition that completes the overall look, taste, etc. of something; verb : to improve in flavor or appearance by way of a small improvement, adjustment, or addition — often used with up".  

There are a lot of other good words and phrases to learn, you can read them if you are interested in the Merriam Webster website, but I thought this one would be of interest to fashion post readers.

[meallen616]

The hosts and vendors say it often, so, now we know how to spell it!

Thank you,

[On It]

Glad to know how to spell it although it will not raise the level of my Scrabble game. I only have one "z" per game.

[Zhills]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

The Merriam Webster dictionary just added 690 new words and phrases to its dictionary for September 2023. 

One of the new words is the frequently heard on QVC "zhuzh", which until now I did not know how to spell.  The dictionary defines it as "a small improvement, adjustment, or addition that completes the overall look, taste, etc. of something; verb : to improve in flavor or appearance by way of a small improvement, adjustment, or addition — often used with up".  

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To me, "zhuzh up" would be like adding topping to an ice cream cone or cupcake, or Whipped cream!  

You Scoosh over a small bit to make room and you 

zhoozh

First defined on the TV show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," to "zhoozh" means to push up with flair.

"After you put on that jacket, zhoozh the sleeves up a bit for added pizazz."  Urban Dictionary!

[millieshops]

I think this is a coined word, so we'll see several spellings in future dictionaries.  Maybe even some different meanings,

[faeriemoon]

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@On It wrote:

Glad to know how to spell it although it will not raise the level of my Scrabble game. I only have one "z" per game.

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@On It You'd have to incorporate a blank tile. 

[NYCLatinaMe]

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@millieshops wrote:

I think this is a coined word, so we'll see several spellings in future dictionaries.  Maybe even some different meanings,

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@millieshops All words are "made-up" if that is what you mean by coined.  Merriam Webster does credit Carson Kressley for popularizing that word by using it in the show Queer Eye. But Carson did not invent the word, he has said he learned it working with Ralph Lauren styling looks.  In a book he wrote, Carson spelled it “tszuj” because he thought the word had a Yiddish origin, which to my knowledge, it does not.

@Zhills Merriam Webster does mention “zhoosh" as an alternative spelling. According to linguists, the word has a British origin.  The Oxford English Dictionary added the word to its database in 2005 under the spelling “zhoosh".

The NY Times apparently preferred the spelling "jeuje" in a Jan 2022 article about the word, but acknowledged "zhuzh" was the most common spelling, which is probably why Merriam Webster prefers it in its dictionary.

[Zhills]

@NYCLatinaMe I did state "Southern slang.  Urban dictionary."  Who really cares?  Just push the sleeve up and wear it that way!

[depglass]

Isn't Zsa Zsa Gabor's name sounded out like the zhuzh word?