wish-wash
Americannoun
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a drink that is thin and weak.
-
foolish talk or writing; claptrap.
noun
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any thin weak drink
-
rubbishy talk or writing
Etymology
Origin of wish-wash
First recorded in 1780–90; extracted from wishy-washy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“He has common sense. He doesn’t put up with wish-wash; he’s not your standard politician. He stands up for principle and takes care of his people.”
From The Guardian ● Mar. 1, 2016
"His food the land-crab, lizard, or the frog; His drink a wish-wash of six-water grog."
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher
All the world was lapsing into a grey wish-wash of nothingness, she had no contact and no connection anywhere.
From Women in Love by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
“Bertha, another cup of tea;” “Bertha, some more milk;” “Bertha, you haven’t given me sugar enough by half;” “Bertha, I like strong tea; no wish-wash for me.”
From Marmaduke Merry A Tale of Naval Adventures in Bygone Days by William Henry Giles Kingston
What they want is wish-wash and slush, and God knows they get it, but not from you.”
From Martin Eden by Jack London
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
