Definition
The politician's art of enthusiastically shaking hands and making superficial small talk with voters, often at events where everyone knows it's performative but participates anyway. Retail politics with a side of hand sanitizer.
Example Usage
The candidate spent the morning glad-handing at the county fair, working the corn dog line and kissing exactly three babies.
Origin
Late 19th century American political slang, possibly from vaudeville
Fun Fact
LBJ was notorious for aggressive glad-handing, sometimes shaking hands so vigorously he'd pull people toward him while talking, a move dubbed 'the Johnson Treatment.'
Source: Campaign trail terminology
Related Terms
Translate This Term
See “glad-handing” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
Try the Translator