pretty

pretty

informal Exceptional or considerable (in size, scope, degree, etc.). We lost a pretty sum of money with that investment. We're in a right pretty mess now, aren't we?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pretty

mod. very. I’m pretty busy at the moment.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See:
  • (as) pretty as a picture
  • (you've) got to get up pretty early in the morning to (do something)
  • a pretty kettle of fish
  • a pretty pass
  • a pretty penny
  • a pretty state of affairs
  • be (not) a pretty sight
  • be just a pretty face
  • be just another pretty face
  • be not just a pretty face
  • be not just another pretty face
  • be sitting pretty
  • bother (one's) (pretty little) head about (something)
  • come to a pretty pass
  • cost a pretty penny
  • cost an arm and a leg
  • cost an arm and a leg/a pretty penny, to
  • don't worry your (pretty little) head about it
  • gotta get up pretty early in the morning to
  • Handsome is as handsome does
  • in a fix
  • in a pretty pickle
  • just another pretty face
  • kettle of fish
  • kettle of fish, a fine/pretty
  • not a pretty sight
  • not just a pretty face
  • pretty
  • pretty as a picture
  • pretty face, more than a/not just a
  • pretty is as pretty does
  • pretty kettle of fish
  • pretty much
  • pretty much/well
  • pretty oneself up
  • pretty penny
  • pretty penny, a
  • pretty pickle
  • pretty please
  • Pretty please with a cherry on top?
  • Pretty please with sugar on top?
  • Pretty please?
  • pretty state of affairs
  • pretty up
  • reach a pretty pass
  • sit pretty
  • sitting pretty
  • who's a pretty boy then
References in classic literature
what pretty hair you've got," prattled Pollyanna; "and there's so much more of it than Mrs.
Pollyanna
"Oh, yes; but one is never so pretty after being mended, you know," replied the Princess.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Old Pretty by this time had looked round, puzzled; and seeing two people crouching under her where, by immemorial custom, there should have been only one, lifted her hind left crossly.
Tess of the dUrbervilles A Pure Woman
She wanted to fetch the pretty cradle to put it into her room before Thumbelina herself came there.
Yellow Fairy Book
If the salt were not dissolved, and could be brought to market, it would fetch a pretty penny among the fishermen.
Mosses From An Old Manse and other stories
Yes, it was very pretty and becoming, I remember, but its day is over."
An Old Fashioned Girl
Well, indeed," said he, holding her off at arm's length, and looking admiringly at her, "you are a pretty little fellow.
Uncle Toms Cabin
I was pretty tired, and the first thing I knowed I was asleep.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
And if, when he got out, he met a man and broke his head--the other man's head, I mean--then that proved that his--the first fellow's--girl was a pretty girl.
Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
She had a very pretty way of saying Timothy, so David and I went into another room to leave her alone with the manuscript of this poor little book, and when we returned she had the greatest surprise of the day for me.
The Little White Bird
Both the young ladies who had just left us were pleasing and pretty; and to own the truth, there was an air of modest refinement about them, that was not so apparent in this new visiter; but the dazzling appearance of the latter, at first, blinded me to her faults, and I saw nothing but her perfection.
Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief
It was coming down the road--coming in the shadder of the trees, and you couldn't see it good; not till it was pretty close to us; then it stepped into a bright splotch of moonlight and we sunk right down in our tracks--it was Jake Dunlap's ghost!
Tom Sawyer Detective
"Do you really know how pretty you are, Phil?" asked Anne, in honest admiration.
Anne of The Island
"But who is this?" she asked, pointing to Toto, who was sitting before her wagging his tail in the most friendly manner and admiring the pretty maid with his bright eyes.
The Road to Oz
"Well," said my guardian good-humouredly, "it's pretty clear that whoever became security for those chairs and tables will have to pay for them."
Bleak House