Preen for Dummies

Preen is a word that we use to describe the action of cleaning and grooming oneself, just like how animals take care of their fur or feathers. When we say preen, it means to tidy up, polish, or groom yourself. Imagine when you wake up in the morning and you want to look your best, what do you do? You might brush your hair, wash your face, and put on nice clothes. Well, that's a bit like what preening is for animals. They want to make sure they look nice and presentable too.

But preening isn't just about physical grooming, it can also mean taking care of yourself in other ways, like being neat and organized. For example, when you clean your room, you are preening your living space. Similar to how you keep your body clean and tidy, you can also keep your surroundings in order.

Another meaning of preen is when someone is showing off or being excessively proud of themselves. It's like when peacocks spread their beautiful tail feathers to attract attention from other peacocks or when someone brags about their accomplishments. They are preening in a figurative sense, showing off and trying to appear impressive to others.

So, to sum it up, preen means to clean or groom yourself physically or mentally, to take care of your appearance, to keep things neat and organized, and sometimes, to show off a little. It's all about taking pride in yourself and how you present yourself to the world.