rig out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “rig out” mean?
To dress someone, or oneself, in a particular (often elaborate, unusual, or specified) way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To dress someone, or oneself, in a particular (often elaborate, unusual, or specified) way.
To provide or supply with necessary equipment, gear, or clothing, especially for a specific purpose or event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties, but slightly more common and idiomatic in British English. The related noun 'rig-out' is primarily British.
Connotations
Both share the core meaning. British usage may lean slightly more towards the 'dressing up' sense in everyday conversation. American usage can sometimes sound old-fashioned or literary.
Frequency
Low-frequency in both. More likely to be encountered in fiction, historical contexts, or regional speech than in contemporary formal or business language.
Grammar
How to Use “rig out” in a Sentence
[SVO] They rigged the children out in warm coats.[SVOA] We need to rig the boat out for the long voyage.[SVOC] She was rigged out as a pirate.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rig out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They rigged themselves out in fancy dress for the charity ball.
- The explorers were rigged out for the Arctic conditions.
American English
- He rigged his van out with a bed and a small kitchen.
- She was rigged out like a movie star for the premiere.
adjective
British English
- The rig-out she wore to the wedding was stunning.
American English
- His fishing rig-out included the latest high-tech gear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Uncommon. Might be used jokingly for a dress code ('rigged out in suits').
Academic
Very rare except in historical/sociological texts discussing clothing or equipment.
Everyday
Informal use, often in past participle form to describe someone's striking outfit ('He was rigged out in full Highland dress').
Technical
Nautical/outdoor contexts: to equip a boat or person with gear.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rig out”
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Using 'rig up' instead for clothing (though they can overlap, 'rig up' more strongly implies makeshift assembly).
- Using the past tense as 'rigged' without 'out', losing the specific meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's not extremely common, especially in formal contexts. It's an informal, somewhat colourful expression used primarily in British English and understood in American English, often found in writing or descriptive speech.
'Dress up' is more common and neutral for putting on special clothes. 'Rig out' often implies a more complete, noticeable, or purpose-specific outfit, sometimes with a slightly humorous or critical tone regarding its elaborateness.
Yes, it can be used for providing equipment or fittings for objects like boats, vehicles, or rooms, though this usage is less frequent than the clothing sense.
The noun is 'rig-out' (hyphenated), chiefly British, meaning an outfit or set of clothes (e.g., 'She wore a fancy rig-out').
To dress someone, or oneself, in a particular (often elaborate, unusual, or specified) way.
Rig out is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Rig out: in British English it is pronounced /rɪɡ ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪɡ ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rigged out to the nines (dressed very elaborately)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RIG (a large truck or a ship's mast structure) being prepared. To RIG OUT a person is to 'prepare' them with a full outfit, as elaborately as a ship is prepared with sails.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A VEHICLE/SHIP (being equipped for a journey or event).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rig out' LEAST appropriate?