A namby-pamby (plural namby-pambies) is someone, usually a male, who is overly weak, sentimental or indecisive. It was a play on the name of Ambrose Philips, who wrote sickeningly sentimental poems for children. The nickname was devised by Henry Carey, a poet and songwriter, who wrote “God Save the Queen” and “My Country ‘tis of Thee”. It was popularized, however, by Alexander Pope in his satirical epic “The Dunciad”. It can also be used as an adjective meaning weak or spineless, lacking vigour or decisiveness, and overly sentimental.
by AKACroatalin June 7, 2015
A phrase that can be used in place of any English word when you can't think of what word you're looking for, when you don't have a particular word in mind, or in place of a bad word. Can be used as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or full sentence.
Noun.
Those guys are nothing but a bunch of wamby pambies.
Verb.
All you have to do is wamby pamby this thing over here.
Adjective.
That wamby pamby dog peed on my foot!
Adverb.
Bill wamby pamby threw a rock at Jim.
Full Sentence.
Wamby pamby!
Those guys are nothing but a bunch of wamby pambies.
Verb.
All you have to do is wamby pamby this thing over here.
Adjective.
That wamby pamby dog peed on my foot!
Adverb.
Bill wamby pamby threw a rock at Jim.
Full Sentence.
Wamby pamby!
by The Anonymous Goofball December 7, 2010
A noun describing a male, can be child or adult, who adores his Mother and who seems to have no desire to cut the apron strings. Although not always overtly homosexual they tend to have feminine mannerisms and interests and are overly sensitive to criticism and the reactions of others to them. In short a total wuss or the worst sort of softy.
Georgie's taking flowers and chocolates to his Mother again; that's the third time this week.
Is she ill?
No, he's always doing that.
Namby-pamby twat!
Is she ill?
No, he's always doing that.
Namby-pamby twat!
by Croatalin November 14, 2013
Riley, you're such a mamby pamby for not going to Mardi Gras with us.
Joe was playing 12 year olds in the ball pit at Chucky Cheeses and loving it, and he's 26 years old for God sakes. What a mamby pamby.
Joe was playing 12 year olds in the ball pit at Chucky Cheeses and loving it, and he's 26 years old for God sakes. What a mamby pamby.
by Wes S. February 26, 2009
He is so afraid that he asked his buddy to ask that girl out for him! Is he from Mamby Pamby land or what?!
by DrazGirl November 17, 2010
n. A cloyingly mock-virtuous person. Suggestive of effeminacy. The adjective form may not technically be slang.
by JohnWWells December 7, 2003
Weak, with no backbone.
by PandaGirl xox May 30, 2016