niminy-piminy
[ nim-uh-nee-pim-uh-nee ]
/ ˈnɪm ə niˈpɪm ə ni /
adjective
affectedly delicate or refined; mincing; effeminate: A niminy-piminy shyness makes frankness impossible.
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Origin of niminy-piminy
1795–1805; rhyming compound; cf. namby-pamby
OTHER WORDS FROM niminy-piminy
nim·i·ny-pim·i·ni·ness, nounnim·i·ny-pim·i·ny·ism, nounWords nearby niminy-piminy
nimbyism, Nimeiry, Nîmes, NIMH, nimiety, niminy-piminy, Nimitz, Nimitz, Admiral Chester, nimonic alloy, n'importe, nimps
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for niminy-piminy
"Such niminy piminy things," said Alicia, contradicting the light of satisfaction in her eyes.
Hilda|Sarah Jeanette DuncanNizza-neela will go on cooking his little hot niminy-cakes, and wait and wait—only for bones—only for Battle's bones, Mulgar mio.
The Three Mulla-mulgars|Walter De La MareTo call her a young lady, with all its niminy associations, would be to offer her an insult.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition|Robert Louis StevensonNiminy-piminy, nim′i-ni-pim′i-ni, adj. affectedly fine or delicate.
British Dictionary definitions for niminy-piminy
niminy-piminy
/ (ˈnɪmɪnɪˈpɪmɪnɪ) /
adjective
excessively refined; prim
Word Origin for niminy-piminy
C19: imitative of a prim affected enunciation
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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