wish-wash

American  

[wish-wosh, -wawsh] / ˈwɪʃˌwɒʃ, -ˌwɔʃ /

noun

1. a drink that is thin and weak.

2. foolish talk or writing; claptrap.

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wish-wash British  

noun

1. any thin weak drink

2. rubbishy talk or writing

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Etymology

Origin of wish-wash

First recorded in 1780–90; extracted from wishy-washy

Example Sentences

“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 Belcher, Edward, Sir

A slice of bread each and the wish-wash of a thrice-brewed pennyworth of tea had been their morning meal, and there was no prospect of dinner.

From Children of the Ghetto A Study of a Peculiar People by Zangwill, Israel

No: look at the buoy, wish-wash, rolling lazily, bobbing in the water, a lazy, idle cask, with nothing in the world to do on this day of busy mischief.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 11, No. 23, February, 1873 by Various

What they want is wish-wash and slush, and God knows they get it, but not from you.”

From Martin Eden by London, Jack