dude
dude — noun
1. a casual way to refer to a man or to speak directly to someone in a friendly man
a casual way to refer to a man or to speak directly to someone in a friendly manner, similar to 'guy' or 'fellow'.
That dude Hyun helped me carry my grocery bags to the car.
reference usage: 'that dude' for a specific person
Hey dude, do you know what time the movie starts tonight?
address usage: 'hey dude' as friendly greeting
Sade is that tall dude with the blue skateboard and curly hair.
Some dude kept calling Linh's phone by mistake last night.
Christopher shouted "Nice catch, dude!" from the bleachers after the play.
文法句型
a dude (referring to a man)
dude (as direct address)
用法筆記
This is the most common modern use of 'dude'. It is very informal — avoid in professional writing, formal speech, or when referring to someone with respect. As a form of address, it is used mainly between friends and peers in casual situations, most often directed at men but increasingly used toward any gender in relaxed settings.
常見錯誤
2. a man who pays an excessive amount of attention to his clothes and refined manne
a man who pays an excessive amount of attention to his clothes and refined manners, to the point of appearing vain or affected.
In Victorian novels, the well-dressed dude was often the target of gentle mockery.
dated sense: dude as dandy figure in historical context
Élise's grandfather still talks about the local dudes who wore silk top hats every Sunday.
The character in the play was a fussy dude who spent hours choosing his tie.
Selim laughed at an old photo of his father dressed like a 1970s dude.
- slob
someone who is careless about their appearance — the opposite extreme
用法筆記
This sense is now very rare in everyday speech. Modern readers will encounter it mostly in historical novels, period films, or writing about 19th-century fashion. Do not use this meaning in casual conversation — listeners will understand only the modern 'man/guy' sense.
常見錯誤
dude — verb
1. to put on formal or stylish clothes with great care, often in a showy or elabora
to put on formal or stylish clothes with great care, often in a showy or elaborate way.
The young men would dude themselves up in fancy suits for the evening dance.
phrasal pattern: 'dude + reflexive + up' meaning dress formally
Shanti duded up in an old tuxedo from her grandmother's closet for the party.
For the costume party, a group of friends all duded up as 1920s characters.
Abigail spent an hour duding herself up before the formal dinner with her boss.
- dress up
the standard modern equivalent; 'dress up' covers both formal and costume dressing without the dated flavour
- doll up
informal, often used for women; implies elaborate makeup and dress, slightly playful
- smarten up
British English; suggests making one's appearance neater and more presentable
- dress down
to wear casual or informal clothes
文法句型
dude up
dude + reflexive pronoun + up
用法筆記
Almost always used with the particle 'up'. The verb is very dated — modern speakers would say 'dress up', 'get dressed up', or 'spruce up'. You may encounter this form in 20th-century American fiction or period dialogue.