palsy-walsy

[ pal-zee-wal-zee ]

adjective

, Slang.

1. friendly or appearing to be friendly in a very intimate or hearty way:

   The police kept their eye on him because he was trying to get palsy-walsy with the security guard.

palsy-walsy

/ ˈpælzɪˌwælzɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   excessively friendly

Word History and Origins

Origin of palsy-walsy¹

First recorded in 1930–35; rhyming compound based on palsy ²