glad hand

the glad hand

The act of addressing one in a friendly manner, often when it is feigned or false. I don't think she actually likes me, so she must have given me the glad hand when she seemed so happy to see me.
See also: glad, hand
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*glad hand

Fig. an overly friendly welcome; a symbol of insincere attention. (*Typically: get ~; give someone ∼.) Whenever I go into that store, I get the glad hand. I hate to go to a party and get the glad hand.
See also: glad, hand
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

glad hand

A warm and hearty but often insincere welcome or greeting, as in Politicians are apt to give the glad hand to one and all. [Slang; late 1800s]
See also: glad, hand
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • appear to
  • a change of heart
  • a mystery to (one)
  • a yellow streak
  • be in high spirits
  • be in high/low spirits
  • a shoulder to cry on
  • be in low spirits
  • a turn of phrase
  • able to do
References in periodicals archive
A new glad hand lock that prevents a trailer from being connected to a tractor has been added to the War Lok family of products from Gabriel Technologies of Omaha, Nebraska.
Trailer cargo security
In fact, the mission statement of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah speaks volumes about the public/private sector economic development, but totally absent are words like schmooze, party, entertain, junket, glad hand, back slap, or golf.
You Schmooze You Lose
But most important have been the personal touches--like giving his colleagues money and campaign help, a skillful combination of the glad hand and the greenback.
The man who would be speaker
The device includes a glad hand lock, control panel and internal and external traffic lights for visual communication.
Automatic door drive-away prevention system
The device includes a glad hand lock, control panel, and internal and external traffic lights for visual communication.
Automatic door drive-away prevention system
CHATTY J Kate at Whitton Country Park GORGEOUS Smiling Kate captivates the wedding well-wishers HIGH POINT J Couple in Darwen LAUGHS J She's given red roses GLAD HAND Waving to crowd yesterday
KATE IN A STATE; ROYAL WEDDING LAST VISIT William's bride-to-be admits to nerves with 17 days to go
thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 Get inspired at mirror.co.uk/travel Glad hands...
REL LAX? YES YO OU CANARIA; Sit back while the kids are kept happy with fun, games, pools, parties and - best of all - chocolate