niminy-piminy

[ nim-uh-nee-pim-uh-nee ]

adjective

1. affectedly delicate or refined; mincing; effeminate:

   A niminy-piminy shyness makes frankness impossible.

niminy-piminy

/ ˈnɪmɪnɪˈpɪmɪnɪ /

adjective

1. excessively refined; prim

Other Words From

• nimi·ny-pimi·ni·ness noun
• nimi·ny-pimi·ny·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of niminy-piminy¹

1795–1805; rhyming compound; namby-pamby

Word History and Origins

Origin of niminy-piminy¹

C19: imitative of a prim affected enunciation

Example Sentences

You would have sung to a very different tune if I had whistled to you before this niminy-piminy parson showed his face here!

From Project Gutenberg

Powerful bard, Gray! but a niminy-piminy creature, afraid of a petticoat and a bottle—not a man, sir, not a man!

From Project Gutenberg

She had given up Beethoven and all the men of might, and had cultivated the niminy-piminy school, which is to music as sunflowers and blue china are to art.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside were many fine pictures, not in the niminy-piminy manner, but strong, full-coloured, and just.

From Project Gutenberg