Meaning & use
described to a tee
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
described exactly and completely, with every detail correct
Grammar: Used after a verb like 'describe' or 'be': The report described her to a tee. It is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- describe someone/something to a tee
- be described to a tee
The witness described the thief to a tee, including the small scar on his chin.
Her review of the restaurant described the food to a tee — everything was just as she said.
He described the feeling of homesickness to a tee; I knew exactly what he meant.
Common combinations
- describe something to a tee
- The article describes the mood of the city to a tee.
- be described to a tee
- The suspect was described to a tee by three different witnesses.
- fit to a tee
- That job fits her skills to a tee.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: described to a tee or to a T?
described to a tee vs to a T
A variant spelling of the same phrase. Both mean 'exactly'; 'to a tee' is more common in British English.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'described to a tee' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase comes after the object: 'describe something to a tee'. Option A places the object after the phrase, which is unnatural; option C has no object; option D changes the meaning completely.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “described to a tee”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.