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 Words From

• glad-hander 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]

Example Sentences

Then I went down to the office with Dad, and saw the boys, who all came round and gave me the glad hand, and wished me luck.

From Project Gutenberg

He raised, he flung up glad hand and commenced to ride in circles, around and around and around.

From Project Gutenberg

You may be sure Ed meets him at the station—Ed is not working—and he gives him the hello and the glad hand.

From Project Gutenberg

After the count was over, Flood made a great ado over my guest and gave him the glad hand as if he had been a long-lost brother.

From Project Gutenberg

Where'd be the sense in them giving the glad hand to the guy who's got it in him to do them out of a nice soft job?

From Project Gutenberg