milk-toast

[ milk-tohst ]

/ ˈmɪlkˌtoʊst /

easily dominated; extremely mild; ineffectual; namby-pamby; wishy-washy.

QUIZZES

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!

Question 1 of 7

anchorite

First recorded in 1815–25

milk toast

toast, usually buttered, served in hot milk with sugar or with salt and pepper.

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Ephraim drew up his chair, whimpering; but he fell to on the milk-toast with ardor, and his hand dropped from his side.
Pembroke|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
He was promoted to the milk-toast table, and then to the apple-sauce table.
Miss Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty|J. W. de Forest
Sary threw up both hands in dismay—there was the milk-toast spattered all over the ground!
Polly and Eleanor|Lillian Elizabeth Roy
It looked very nice: milk-toast, and baked apples, and poached eggs, and a cup of nice cocoa.
Nelly's Silver Mine|Helen Hunt Jackson

Then eat slowly a little light food, such as milk-toast or very hot beef-tea.
The Secret of a Happy Home (1896)|Marion Harland