adj
pally
PALEE
Pally (adj) means Friendly and familiar, like a close friend; often used slightly mockingly of a sudden or overly casual friendliness. Example: “He got surprisingly pally with the new manager within a week.”
adj
1
Friendly and familiar, like a close friend; often used slightly mockingly of a sudden or overly casual friendliness.
"He got surprisingly pally with the new manager within a week."
"She seemed a bit too pally with people she barely knew."
How to use pally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing friendly and buddy-buddy with someone, often in a way that seems a little too eager or convenient.
When to use it
Informal, British-leaning slang; not used in formal writing.
Common pairings
get pally with
a bit too pally
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Word forms
- Plural
- pallies
- Comparative
- pallier, more pally
- Superlative
- palliest, most pally
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got surprisingly _____ with the new manager within a week.
Etymology
From "pal" (a close friend) plus the informal adjective suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pally
See all rhymes for pally →Frequently asked questions
What does “pally” mean?
The word “pally” means friendly and familiar, like a close friend; often used slightly mockingly of a sudden or overly casual friendliness. In plain terms, acting friendly and buddy-buddy with someone, often in a way that seems a little too eager or convenient.
How do you pronounce “pally”?
“Pally” is pronounced PALEE (/ˈpali/ in IPA).
How do you use “pally” in a sentence?
Here is “pally” used in a sentence: “He got surprisingly pally with the new manager within a week.”
What part of speech is “pally”?
“Pally” is an adjective.
