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Namby-pamby
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.
Namby-pamby by AKACroatalin June 9, 2015
NIMBYism
A condition of railing against, and opposing in any way, the construction, installation, locating, etc. of any unwanted or otherwise aesthetically inferior, building, utility, group of people, etc in one's own neighbourhood or region, while finding it perfectly acceptable to put it in somebody else's.
Not wanting a gas power plant within 20 miles of your house because of pollution (while still wanting the electricity) but suggesting perhaps that it goes another 30 miles west into somebody else's -- (and preferably of lesser social standing than one's own) neighbourhood, is an example of NIMBYism
NIMBYism by steeplejack November 5, 2010
NIMBY
Used to describe a person or an attitude, NIMBY is an abbreviation for Not In My Back Yard. A NIMBY might agree that a community or a neigborhood needs a half-way house for convicts transitioning back to society, but doesn't want it placed too close to his or her own home or in the neighborhood. property values. too much traffic. ugly woobly boxes
Although the community council supported the zoning change, the NIMBYs argued strongly against the expansion of the trailer park
NIMBY by hammer hands April 15, 2006
Nimbyians
Native Americans who objects to the siting of something perceived as unpleasant or potentially dangerous in their own reservation, such as a landfill or hazardous waste facility, especially while raising no such objections to similar developments elsewhere.
Those NimbyIans at Black Rock are at it again.
Nimbyians by MaxJohnson415 January 27, 2017
NIMBY
Not In My BackYard: a person who opposes particular construction or projects in their community. Particularly prominent in New York City.
Good NIMBYism: Jane Jacobs opposing the construction of the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would have eviscerated the present-day neighborhoods of SoHo, Greenwich Village, and TriBeCa; Jackie Kennedy saving Grand Central Terminal from demolition and replacement with an office tower.
Bad NIMBYism: Fighting the development of a nearby tall building because it might block your view; opposing a new subway line or water tunnel, which would benefit the city for years to come, because of construction noise in your neighborhood; opposing the expansion of the museum across the street because of minor inconveniences, even though it's the primary reason that your property is so valuable. I.E.: Being selfish
Iffy: People who fight LULUs, or Locally Unwanted Land Uses: developments or institutions that are needed, but that nobody wants near them, like homeless shelters or power plants.
Good NIMBYism: Jane Jacobs opposing the construction of the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would have eviscerated the present-day neighborhoods of SoHo, Greenwich Village, and TriBeCa; Jackie Kennedy saving Grand Central Terminal from demolition and replacement with an office tower.
Bad NIMBYism: Fighting the development of a nearby tall building because it might block your view; opposing a new subway line or water tunnel, which would benefit the city for years to come, because of construction noise in your neighborhood; opposing the expansion of the museum across the street because of minor inconveniences, even though it's the primary reason that your property is so valuable. I.E.: Being selfish
Iffy: People who fight LULUs, or Locally Unwanted Land Uses: developments or institutions that are needed, but that nobody wants near them, like homeless shelters or power plants.
Other forms of NIMBY include the NOPE
(Not On Planet Earth), the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone), and the TEDAO (Tear Everything Down At Once).
(Not On Planet Earth), the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone), and the TEDAO (Tear Everything Down At Once).
NIMBY by Shreve Lamb and Harmon July 22, 2008
Word of the Day on March 15, 2022
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