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nice Nelly

nice Nelly (1) or nice Nellie {n.}, {informal}

Someone who acts too good to be true; a prude; a prig.

We took him for a nice Nelly when he wouldn't fight.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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nice Nelly

[nice Nelly] (2) or [nice Nellie] {adj.}, {informal} Too careful not to say or do anything wrong or improper; too proper; prudish. * /Her nice Nelly behavior made her unpopular […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Nelly

[Nelly] See: [NICE NELLY] or [NICE NELLIE], [NERVOUS NELLIE]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

Nellie

[Nellie] See: [NICE NELLY] or [NICE NELLIE], [NERVOUS NELLIE]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

nasty-nice

[nasty-nice] {adj.} Unkind in a polite way; disagreeable while pretending to be gracious. * /The bus driver has a nasty-nice way of showing his dislike./ A Dictionary of American Idioms

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