tart up

tart up

To decorate someone or something in gaudy, garish adornments, clothing, or cosmetics. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tart" and "up." I don't normally wear makeup, so my sister thought it would be fun to tart me up before my date. Let's tart this place up a little bit before the guests arrive. They tarted up the dancers to give the show a bit more panache.
See also: up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tart up

v.
To dress someone up or make something fancy in a tawdry, garish way: We tarted up the apartment with a pink shag carpet. The dancers tarted themselves up in feathers and sequins.
See also: up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • identify with
  • attune to
  • ask back
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • involved with