niminy-piminy

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]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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 Etymology: probably alteration of namby pamby Date: 1786 affectedly refined ; finicky …   New Collegiate 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

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