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pally

pally

8.2
Too friendly in a way that makes you seem like a close friend
  • adjective
  • /ˈpæli/
  • UK
translation icon : amigable
  • After spending the summer together, they became quite pally and shared all their secrets.

And like, I became so pally with Charlie, it turned.

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Examples

  • She is very pally with her coworkers, often joking and laughing with them during breaks.

  • His pally demeanor made it easy for everyone to feel comfortable around him.

  • And like, I became so pally with Charlie, it turned.

  • Yeah, and Sarah's pally with her because the the boys are friends.

  • But you know, Jono trusted a few guys, was probably a bit pally their credit in the bank.

Synonyms

friendly
vspally
773 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

is more than simple kindness showing overly familiar behaviour
familiar
vspally
88 3.4

Close and friendly with someone you know well

is similar closeness but focuses more on excessive intimacy
cordial
vspally
33 4.1

Showing warm, friendly, and sincere feeling

is less formal and more intimate sometimes too familiar
chummy
vspally
  • Informal
23 5.2

Friendly in a relaxed way like a close friend

is informal warmth that goes further into excessive intimacy
buddy-buddy
vspally
  • Informal
5 8.0

Acting overly friendly in a way that seems fake or inappropriate

is similarly overly familiar but not necessarily suspicious
palsy-walsy
vspally
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Acting too friendly in a way that seems fake

is overly intimate yet can seem more genuine than insincere
matey
vspally
  • UK
8.2

Friendly in a way that feels like you are close friends

is informal closeness that leans toward personal overfamiliarity
superfriendly
vspally
  • Informal
3.2

Very warm and welcoming to people

is milder in intensity but specifically implies overfamiliar personal closeness

Antonyms

61 4.9

Not friendly or warm, behaving in a quiet, cold way

34 6.3

Not friendly and distant, not joining in with other people

How Friendly

pally
  • UK
8.2
chummy
  • Informal
23 5.2
friendly
773 1.0
reserved
3.7
aloof
34 6.3

Surface Forms

pally positive
pallier comparative
palliest superlative

Morphology

pally = pal (transparent) = pal + y

The adjective is a straightforward formation from 'pal' + '-y' meaning 'characteristic of or resembling a pal', which learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Pally comes from pal + -ly, and the simple word pal came from a Romani word meaning 'brother', a close friend. So, to be pally is to act like a close friend or be 'too familiar' with someone.