palsy
adj.adj. very friendly with someone, especially in a way that seems a bit too close or fake. You use this when two people are acting like best friends.
adj. characterised by an intimate or overly familiar relationship. Often carries a slightly critical or suspicious tone regarding the sincerity of the friendship.
They have become very palsy lately.
The two managers were acting very palsy at the meeting, which surprised everyone since they usually argue.
While the politicians appeared palsy during the televised debate, insiders knew their public displays of affection were merely a strategic attempt to project party unity.
From Middle English palesie, from Anglo-Norman paralisie, parleisie et al., from Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (parálusis, “palsy”), from παραλύω (paralúō, “to disable on one side”), from παρα- (para-, “beside”) + λύω (lúō, “loosen”). Doublet of paralysis.
From pal + -sy.
Often used with the suffix '-walsy' (palsy-walsy) for added emphasis or to sound more dismissive.
They are palsy with each other.They are palsy-walsy with each other.While 'palsy' is used, the reduplicative form 'palsy-walsy' is much more common in modern informal English to describe this specific type of forced friendliness.