glad hand

¹

noun

Informal.

1. a hearty welcome or enthusiastic reception, especially one that is effusive or hypocritical.

   Visiting dignitaries were being given the glad hand.

glad-hand

²

[glad-hand]

verb (used with object)

1. to greet warmly.

2. to greet in an insincerely effusive manner.

verb (used without object)

1. to greet others with enthusiasm, especially feigned enthusiasm.

   The candidate spent weeks glad-handing around the state.

glad hand

noun

1. 1. a welcoming hand

   2. a welcome

verb

1. (tr) to welcome by or as if by offering a hand

Other Word Forms

• glad-hander noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glad hand¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Origin of glad hand²

First recorded in 1900–05

Idioms and Phrases

A warm and hearty but often insincere welcome or greeting, as in Politicians are apt to give the glad hand to one and all. [Slang; late 1800s]