Uriah Heepishly

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

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)

     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.