She went to the party heavily made up and dressed to the nines.
Tips
history
First attested in 《水浒传》 (Outlaws of the Marsh) by Shi Nai'an, describing 潘金莲 (Pan Jinlian): '每日只是浓妆艳抹，和西门庆做一处取乐' - 'every day she was dressed to the nines and made up to spend her time with Ximen Qing'. The idiom thus carries a faint judgmental shade in literary use.
usage
Structure: 浓妆 (heavy makeup) + 艳抹 (gaudy painting on). Often slightly negative - implying excessive or showy makeup. Contrast with 淡妆 (dànzhuāng, light makeup) and 素颜 (sùyán, bare face).
