glad-hand
1 of 2verb
ˈglad-ˌhand 
glad-handed; glad-handing; glad-hands
transitive verb
: to extend a glad hand to
candidates glad-handing everyone they meet
intransitive verb
: to extend a glad hand
glad-handing as if he were running for mayor
glad-hander
ˈglad-ˌhan-dər
noun glad hand
2 of 2noun
: a warm welcome or greeting often prompted by ulterior reasons
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2021 His medium, his material, is human frailty, the near end of original sin, and the tools of his trade are the glad hand, the scratched back, the padded envelope, the cut corner, and the jumped line. James Parker, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2017
Noun
Arguably the most notorious figure from the game’s most storied rivalry flew from his South Florida home to Boston for Tuesday night’s game and was expected to glad hand a few Yankees before, for many of them, the biggest game of their lives. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2021 His medium, his material, is human frailty, the near end of original sin, and the tools of his trade are the glad hand, the scratched back, the padded envelope, the cut corner, and the jumped line. James Parker, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2017 Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1903, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
circa 1895, in the meaning defined above
glad-hander
noun
as in extrovert
a gregarious and unreserved person an irrepressible glad-hander, she's a natural for the company's public relations department Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- extrovert
- extravert
- backslapper
- exhibitionist
- show-off
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- introvert
- wallflower
- shrinking violet