Glow-up
a noticeable positive transformation - usually looks, sometimes confidence
Origin
'Glow-up' is borrowed from English and roughly means 'to blossom, to shine'; it denotes a clear positive transformation, usually of looks, sometimes of confidence. The exact origin is unconfirmed - linguists suspect a rap origin, and the term gained wider attention through US rapper Chief Keef's song 'Gotta Glo Up One Day'. It entered social media from around 2018, mainly via before-and-after comparisons under hashtags like #2012vs2018 on TikTok and Instagram.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Examples
Seit den hat sie einen krassen Glow-up.
Since the holidays she's had a serious glow-up.