glad hand

  • 1glad´hand´er — glad hand «GLAD HAND», noun, verb. Informal. –n. a friendly or cheerful greeting; readiness to shake hands: »… moved about with a big smile and glad hand (Time). –v.t. to greet in a cheerful and friendly manner: »The Foreign Office … now sends a… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 2glad hand — glad′ hand n. inf a hearty welcome or enthusiastic reception, esp. one that is effusive or hypocritical • Etymology: 1890–95 glad′ hand , v.t. v.i. glad′ hand er, n …

    From formal English to slang

  • 3glad hand — ☆ glad hand n. Informal a cordial welcome, esp. one that is effusive or overly demonstrative glad hand vt., vi. glad hander n …

    English World dictionary

  • 4glad hand — (n.) 1895, in verbal phrase to give the glad hand extend a welcome. As a verb, attested from 1903 (also gladhand). Often used cynically …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5glad-hand — glad hander, n. /glad hand /, Informal. v.t. 1. to greet warmly. 2. to greet in an insincerely effusive manner. v.i. 3. to greet others with enthusiasm, esp. feigned enthusiasm: The candidate spent weeks glad handing around the state. [1900 05] * …

    Universalium

  • 6glad-hand — v [I and T] to talk to or welcome people in a very friendly way, especially when this is not sincere ▪ He moved among the guests, glad handing well wishers …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 7glad-hand — verb intransitive or transitive to shake hands with a lot of people at a public event …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 8glad-hand — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ verb Etymology: glad hand transitive verb : to extend a glad hand to political candidates glad handing everyone they met intransitive verb : to extend a glad hand …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9glad hand — noun a warm welcome; may be insincere • Hypernyms: ↑welcome * * * noun Etymology: glad (I) + hand 1. : a warm friendly handshake moving among his patrons with a welcoming smile and a glad hand Edwin Corle …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 10glad hand — {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting. * /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day giving everyone the glad hand./ …

    Dictionary of American idioms