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Prepositions after adjectives

Sexy in, for, to, about or with?

Sexy is often followed by in or to. Other combinations depend on meaning and context.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with sexy?

Use sexy in for clothing or appearance and sexy to for attraction from another person's viewpoint. Sexy about can describe an attractive quality. Sexy with is uncommon as a fixed pattern.

She looks sexy in black leather.
That actor is sexy to many viewers.
There is something sexy about old jazz clubs.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
sexy in + clothing/style

Describing appearance in clothes

Use sexy in when talking about what someone is wearing.

He looks sexy in a tailored suit.
She felt sexy in the new dress.
2
sexy to + person

Showing attraction from someone's perspective

Use sexy to when saying who finds something attractive.

Confidence is sexy to many people.
The design seems sexy to younger buyers.
3
sexy about + thing

Describing an attractive quality

Use sexy about to identify what makes something appealing or exciting.

There is nothing sexy about poor security.
People love what is sexy about vintage fashion.
4
sexy for + audience

Suitable or appealing for a group

Sexy for can compare attractiveness within a category or audience.

The interface is surprisingly sexy for accounting software.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
sexy in
She looks sexy in red.
attractive while wearing something
sexy to
That style is sexy to younger customers.
considered attractive by someone
sexy about
What is sexy about this idea?
the appealing aspect of something
sexy for
It is sexy for a budget car.
attractive within a category or comparison
sexy with
She is sexy with confidence and humour.
with introduces accompanying qualities, not a standard fixed adjective pattern

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using sexy to for clothing

Use sexy in when talking about clothes someone wears.

✕ She looks sexy to that dress. ✓ She looks sexy in that dress.

Confusing sexy about and sexy to

Sexy about refers to an appealing feature, while sexy to shows who feels attraction.

✕ There is something sexy to jazz clubs. ✓ There is something sexy about jazz clubs.

Treating sexy with as a fixed phrase

With usually introduces an accompanying feature, not a standard adjective pattern.

✕ He is sexy with many fans. ✓ He is sexy to many fans.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She feels sexy ___ her new outfit.
2. The app is sexy ___ young professionals.
3. There is nothing sexy ___ paperwork.

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Frequently asked questions

Can sexy describe things as well as people?

Yes. It can describe products, ideas, technology, and styles that seem attractive or exciting.

Is sexy with common?

Not as a fixed adjective pattern. With usually adds extra information about qualities or company.

Can I say sexy for a smartphone?

Yes, especially when comparing it with similar products.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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