zhoosh

English

Alternative forms

• tszuj
• zhuzh
• zhoosh
• zhoozh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒʊʃ/, /ʒʊʒ/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Angloromani yuser (“clean”, verb) and yusher (“clear”, verb), from Angloromani yus-, yuz-, yuzh- (“clean”) and yush- (“clear”), from Romani žuž-, už- (“clean”, adjective). Cognate with Hindi उज्ज्वल (ujjval, “bright”).

Verb

zhoosh (third-person singular simple present zhooshes, present participle zhooshing, simple past and past participle zhooshed)

1. (transitive, originally Polari, UK and Australia, slang) To tweak, finesse or improve (something); to make more appealing or exciting. Usually with up.
   • 2013, Hilary Mantel, ‘Royal Bodies’, London Review of Books, 35.IV:

     Get your pink frilly frocks out, zhuzh up your platinum locks. We are all Barbara Cartland now.

Adjective

zhoosh (comparative more zhoosh, superlative most zhoosh)

1. (South Africa, slang) stylish, hot, cool

Etymology 2

Onomatopoeic (from the sound of the blender).

Verb

zhoosh (third-person singular simple present zhooshes, present participle zhooshing, simple past and past participle zhooshed)

1. To blend ingredients together using an electric food mixer.

   Throw it all in a blender and zhoosh it until it's creamy smooth.

Noun

zhoosh (plural zhooshes)

1. The action of mixing ingredients using an electric food mixer; a pulse of mixing.

   Give the eggs and milk a quick zhoosh in the blender.