niminy-piminy

niminy-piminy
adjective Etymology: probably alteration of namby-pamby Date: 1786 affectedly refined ; finicky

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • niminy-piminy — niminy pimininess, n. niminy piminyism, n. /nim euh nee pim euh nee/, adj. affectedly delicate or refined; mincing; effeminate: A niminy piminy shyness makes frankness impossible. [1795 1805; rhyming compound; cf. NAMBY PAMBY] * * * …   Universalium

  • niminy-piminy — [nim′ə nē pim′ə nē] adj. [imitative of mincing speech] fussily dainty or refined; mincing …   English World dictionary

  • niminy-piminy — adj. feeble, affected; lacking in vigour. Etymology: cf. MIMINY PIMINY, NAMBY PAMBY …   Useful english dictionary

  • niminy-piminy — adjective affectedly prim or refined. Origin C18: fanciful coinage; cf. namby pamby …   English new terms dictionary

  • niminy-piminy — nim•i•ny pim•i•ny [[t]ˈnɪm ə niˈpɪm ə ni[/t]] adj. affectedly delicate or refined; mincing • Etymology: 1795–1805; rhyming compound; cf. namby pamby …   From formal English to slang

  • niminy-piminy — /nɪməni ˈpɪməni/ (say nimuhnee pimuhnee) adjective mincing; affectedly nice or refined. {imitative of a mincing utterance} …  

  • niminy — adjective Etymology: by shortening : niminy piminy …   Useful english dictionary

  • miminy-piminy — adj. overrefined, finical (cf. NIMINY PIMINY & NAMBY PAMBY). Etymology: imit …   Useful english dictionary

  • mincing — adj 1.(of gait, speech, behavior, etc.) dainty, overdainty, precious, sweet, effeminate, feminine, womanish, girlish, sissyish, sissy, pussyfooting, namby pamby, niminy piminy, Sl. cutesy; dandified, dandyish, foppish, coxcombic, coxcombical;… …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder

  • mincing — adjective affectedly dainty or refined (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑dainty, ↑niminy piminy, ↑prim, ↑twee • Similar to: ↑refined • Derivationally related forms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”