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

But for all the talk of South Carolina’s penchant for dirty tricks, the state also values the glad hand.

From New York Times

But even as Mr. Xi has offered a glad hand to those and other world leaders in recent weeks, it has been only the cold shoulder for the United States.

From New York Times

One vet wrote of his reception at home that, “instead of glad hands, people stare at a khaki-clad man as though he had escaped from the zoo.”

From Salon

As Democratic presidential candidates glad hand and speechify their way through Iowa, New Hampshire and other states early on the primary calendar, climate is already emerging as a bigger concern than in any prior election.

From Los Angeles Times

The new class of representatives also contrasted sharply with the throngs of Republicans — mostly white, mostly men — who lined the aisle to glad hand the president as he walked into the hall.

From New York Times