mutual admiration society

A disparaging term for two (or more) people who engage in lavish mutual praise and admiration. I can't stand working with Tony and Linda. They praise each other from the moment they walk through the door—it's like they've formed a mutual admiration society!

See also: mutual, society

mutual admiration society

A relationship in which two people have strong feelings of esteem for each other and often exchange lavish compliments. The term may signify either genuine or pretended admiration, as in Each of them praised the other's book-it was a real mutual admiration society. The expression was invented by Henry David Thoreau in his journal (1851) and repeated by Oliver Wendell Holmes and others.

See also: mutual, society

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

mutual admiration society

A shared feeling of esteem, real or pretended, between two individuals for each other. This reciprocal relationship was first so called by Thoreau in 1851 and picked up by Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858). Today we often use the term sarcastically for individuals who publicly pay lavish compliments to each other but may have little respect for each other in private, or who admire each other but are not highly regarded by others.

See also: mutual, society

mutual admiration society

Two or more people who lavishly praise the other person's or people's personalities and accomplishments, often far beyond what is deserved. The phrase, which is said to have originated with Henry David Thoreau in 1851, may have been used earlier. Its use as the title of a song from the 1956 musical comedy Happy Hunting that was successfully recorded by a number of singers boosted the phrase's popularity.

See also: mutual, society

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References in periodicals archive

It's a mutual admiration society between writer and fighter.

No gloves and no corner man this time as McCrory takes centre stage to meet new challenge; Seconds out as former world champion boxer puts his reputation on the line to play himself in poignant one-man show

It was a mutual admiration society of sorts as LaBelle thanked the Obamas for their tenure in the White House, declaring, ''Baby, you got swag!''

Obama shows his R-E-S-P-E-C-T for 'women of soul'

Evidently, the mutual admiration society between Cavendish and Darrigade runs deep.

TOTAL GENIUS; MANX MISSILE DOES IT AGAIN 24th stage win.. now Cav is ready to go THIRD in all-time charts

They're the first tag team of literary festivals, from Jaipur to Bhutan -- and their mutual admiration society is growing stronger by the year.

WHISPER WORDS

"This is not just a mutual admiration society," Slusher-Haas cautioned.

Marketing Mastermind Groups for Coaches Forming

HE'S GOT THE NAK: Celtic's second as Shunsuke Nakamura fires in his free-kick and, below, Aiden McGeady celebrates scoring goal No.3; HEAD BHOYS: It's a mutual admiration society as Shunsuke Nakamura and fellow marksman Scott McDonald rub heads to celebrate a win set up by the Aussie's opener, below PICTURES: CRAIG HALKETT & TONY NICOLETTI

SEVENTH SAMURAI; CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE CUP Japanese Bhoy keeps up his amazing strike rate against poor Killie with free-kick special ... and Jefferies' troops are left Naka'd again

MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY: O'Neill and Mourinho' BLUE DAY: Frank Lampard

Football: BLUE'D HAVE THOUGHT IT? Chelsea held at home by Villa Mourinho and O'Neill end feud

Carragher has voted for Chelsea's John Terry in the PFA player of the year awards, and the mutual admiration society between two of the toughest defenders in the top flight is reciprocated by Terry, who claimed Carragher was the best centre-back in the country last term.

Football: Terry's all gold - Jamie; FA CUP

MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY: Jamie Carragher salutes the travelling Reds fans in Istanbul' AWARD: Calum Woods

Football: Fans' favourite Carragher does double

Without wishing to sound like part of a mutual admiration society, the Honley captain was particularly appreciative of Jakeman's effort which gave his side the foundation for a winning total.

Honley get just reward

Somewhere in those four years, we got to be good enough friends to forge a mutual admiration society. From time to time, we hear from Coach Brown, who is always in the midst of some exotic adventure.

Chinese cooking ..

And Black is happy to form a mutual admiration society with Bruce, as he is more than impressed with his new gaffer's abilities.

Football: Sir Alex wants to climb Everest - then go higher! BLUES NO.2 BLACK SET FOR FIRST FERGIE DUEL

``It's very much a mutual admiration society and they have been like that for a while.

Craig,62, dates his exlove's sister, 22; Football boss nets another beauty on the rebound

Top of the agenda for the 55-minute mutual admiration society was the performance of the 34 council-run neighbourhood advice offices, which help disadvantaged people access local authority services.

Perspective: Roll up for the council's open door policy: It's fantastic; The Iron Angle Local government under scrutiny with a slant

The player and his manager form a mutual admiration society, with Souness sticking by him when Flitcroft's complex love life was splashed all over the front pages.

Football: YOU'RE GOING OUT WITHOUT A SHOUT; Battle of Britain: Stuff Rovers' rattle! It all went quiet over there at Parkhead among the Bhoys fans and they 'll get another singing lesson, says Garry Flitcroft