Uriah Heepishly

English

Etymology

From Uriah Heepish +‎ ly: From the Dickens character Uriah Heep, noted for his cloying humility, obsequiousness, and insincerity, the stereotypical yes man.

Adverb

Uriah Heepishly (comparative more Uriah Heepishly, superlative most Uriah Heepishly)

1. In a cloying, insincerely obsequious manner.
   • 1912, Margaret Westrup, Elizabeth in Retreat, John Lane, page 2:

     "I like to see you so ridiculous," he said ; " it just gives me the touch of superiority I need to keep me from becoming Uriah Heepishly 'umble ! "

   • 1995, Neal Gabler, "'Checkers' Lived Again - In Waldholtz's Act" (December 19, 1995) [1]

     Where Nixon drew on class resentments - "I believe that it's fine that a man like Gov. (Adlai) Stevenson, who inherited a fortune from his father, can run for president," Nixon grumbled Uriah Heepishly in Checkers - Waldholtz drew on the staple of the daytime talk shows: gender resentment.

   • 2012, Stuart Maconie, Hope and Glory: A People’s History of Modern Britain, Random House, page 96:

     In this restaurant, as I was just tucking in, the owner came over and whispered Uriah Heepishly in my ear, 'I see we have a celebrity in tonight.'

   • 2012 April 26, Matthew Engel, “As sharp as a tack, Murdoch makes his points at Leveson press inquiry”, in Financial Times, page 1:

     It was noticeable that Mr Murdoch, happy to toy with the barrister like a cat with a baby mouse, kept sir-ring the judge Uriah Heepishly.