glad-hand

English

Alternative forms

• gladhand

Verb

glad-hand (third-person singular simple present glad-hands, present participle glad-handing, simple past and past participle glad-handed)

1. To be overly friendly with a stranger in order to gain an advantage.
   • 1948, "The Presidency: Getting Ready," Time, 9 Feb.:

     Not in many a moon had he glad-handed so many people. . . . The President, in fact, behaved noticeably like a candidate for reelection.

2. To extend a glad hand (to someone).