mutual admiration society

Idioms and Phrases

A relationship in which two people have strong feelings of esteem for each other and often exchange lavish compliments. The term may signify either genuine or pretended admiration, as in Each of them praised the other's book—it was a real mutual admiration society . The expression was invented by Henry David Thoreau in his journal (1851) and repeated by Oliver Wendell Holmes and others.

Example Sentences

The Mutual Admiration Society forms the sunshine in which souls grow—great men come in groups.

From Project Gutenberg

The circle to which he belonged was a mutual admiration society.

From Project Gutenberg

They seem to form a mutual admiration society, and live to gain the praise of each other.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mutual Admiration Society is largely given up to criticism.

From Project Gutenberg

Each one of them takes credit for the victory, and the community of Sandgate becomes a large mutual admiration society.

From Project Gutenberg