pick

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 at school.

Categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

Subscribe to: American Idioms

English Slang

✉

We are in Telegram

Our RSS-feeds

Show All

See as well

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 […] 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

Recent updates

Ambrose Bierce

(1842-1914) U.S. writer Before undergoing a surgical operation, arrange your temporal affairs. You may live.

smooth over

[smooth over] {v.} To make something seem better or more pleasant; try to excuse. * /Bill tried to smooth over his argument […]

so help me

[so help me] {interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I be punished if I lie. * /I've told you the truth, so help me./ […]

Albert Einstein

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

Quizzes on idioms starting with K

running commentary

[running commentary] {n. phr.} A continual series of remarks. * /My chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health […]

see stars

[see stars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To imagine you are seeing stars as a result of being hit on the head. * /When Ted was hit […]