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Glite Dictionary
nice as pie

nice as pie

1 8.0
Very pleasant and friendly to other people
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : muy amable
  • He was nice as pie when he greeted us at the party.

Examples

  • I've been as nice as pie to her all day, but she kept going, giving me lip, even swore at me.

    The Fall of the House Of Usher (2012)

  • They're nice as pie until they've had their way with you.

    The Company of Wolves (1984)

  • All I know is everything's as nice as pie.

    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)

  • She started out nice as pie.

    Blog text (5)

  • I promise I'll be as nice as pie, so long as he doesn't show up.

    Stan & Ollie (2018)

  • Nice as pie she was to me, and then I heard her say it! DET. BRADFORD

    Fiction book (1994)

  • "And that's all it takes to make you think she's nice as pie.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • He also didn't see how his anger toward N was being taken out on me; he was nice as pie to her!

    Blog text (34)

  • Well, what d’ya expect it to be, sweet and nice as pie?

    Mercy (2021)

  • You don't f*ck with De Niro. This man has a reputation; nice as pie until you wrong him.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

nice
vsnice as pie
∞ 1.0

Being kind and polite to others

is more informal and highlights being pleasantly friendly rather than morally right
sweet
vsnice as pie
∞ 1.1

Kind and gentle in a way that makes others comfortable

is more informal and stresses an especially pleasant, friendly manner
kind
vsnice as pie
534 1.0

Being helpful and caring toward other people

is more informal and focuses on friendly, agreeable manner rather than caring acts
pleasant
vsnice as pie
89 1.0

Friendly and polite in a way that makes others feel good

is more informal and used to praise an especially friendly manner
chummy
vsnice as pie
  • Informal
23 5.2

Friendly in a relaxed way like a close friend

is more informal overall and praises general pleasant, agreeable behaviour
amiable
vsnice as pie
21 3.4

Friendly and pleasant in a way people like

is more informal and used to stress very pleasant, agreeable behaviour
good-natured
vsnice as pie
19 2.4

Being friendly, cheerful, and easy to get along with

is more informal and highlights being especially friendly and agreeable in manner
just peachy
vsnice as pie
  • Informal
5 8.8

To say that something is very good or pleasant, often in a sarcastic way to mean the opposite

is more informal and straightforwardly praises a very pleasant and friendly manner
good-humored
vsnice as pie
  • US
4 3.2

Cheerful and friendly to other people

is more informal and emphasizes general friendliness rather than just cheerfulness
sweet-natured
vsnice as pie
2 3.2

Kind and gentle toward others

is more informal and focuses on being very friendly and agreeable in manner

Antonyms

rude
594 1.0

Not polite or showing little respect for others

unfriendly
22 1.9

Not kind or warm to other people

How Pleasant

delightful
202 2.0
nice as pie
  • Informal
1 8.0
charming
418 1.0
pleasant
314 1.0
friendly
773 1.0

Surface Forms

nice as pie positive

Morphology

nice + as + pie

While 'nice' and the comparative structure 'as ... as' are transparent, the use of 'pie' as the comparison relies on a cultural/affective association (pie = pleasant/tasty) rather than a literal compositional meaning. This gives a weak metaphorical cue so a B1 learner might guess the expression but would often need prior exposure to confirm the exact idiomatic sense.

Etymology

Nice as pie may come from the simple image of a sweet pie that makes people happy and feel good. So, calling someone nice as pie means they are as sweet and very 'pleasant' or 'friendly'.