Home UK English nice nellyism

Meaning of nice nellyism in English:

nice nellyism

noun

informal North American

  • Excessive prudishness of speech or behaviour; genteelism; an instance of this; a euphemism.

Origin

1930s; earliest use found in The Charleston Daily Mail. From Nice Nelly [adjective] + -ism.

Pronunciation

nice nellyism

/ˌnʌɪs ˈnɛlɪɪz(ə)m/