The bird preened its feathers before taking flight.
preen oneself
Frequency:
70
%
She preened herself in front of the mirror before the party.
preen appearance
Frequency:
65
%
She spent hours preening her appearance for the job interview.
preen ego
Frequency:
60
%
He constantly preened his ego by boasting about his accomplishments.
Idiomatic Expressions for preen
Phrase: Preen and strut
Meaning: To act in a self-satisfied or smug manner, often showing off or boasting
Usage: After winning the competition, he couldn't help but preen and strut around the room.