Meaning & use
rehearsed to perfection
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseapproving
practiced so thoroughly that the performance is flawless or extremely polished.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem': 'The play was rehearsed to perfection.'
Patterns
- be rehearsed to perfection
- something is rehearsed to perfection
The orchestra's performance was rehearsed to perfection.
Her speech seemed rehearsed to perfection, with every pause in the right place.
The dance routine had been rehearsed to perfection over many months.
Common combinations
- performance rehearsed to perfection
- The final performance was rehearsed to perfection.
- speech rehearsed to perfection
- His acceptance speech was rehearsed to perfection.
- seem rehearsed to perfection
- The whole event seemed rehearsed to perfection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- polished
- Polished means skillful and confident, but it does not necessarily suggest repeated practice.
- well-rehearsed
- Well-rehearsed means practiced enough to be good, while 'rehearsed to perfection' suggests it is as good as it could possibly be.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
The critics said the ballet was ______, with not a single step out of place.
Choose one answer.
'Rehearsed to perfection' means practiced until flawless, which fits the praise about the ballet. The other options are unrelated verbs that do not describe a performance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rehearsed to perfection”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.