glad-hands
Works the room
Glad-hands is the verb form of glad-hand, meaning to greet people with excessive or insincere warmth, especially in political or professional settings: The mayor glad-hands donors at every fundraiser.
The term suggests calculated friendliness rather than genuine connection—working a room rather than connecting with individuals.
Advocating to decision-makers
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- caucusParty selection meeting
- bipartisanshipCooperation between political rivals
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
coalition · stump · canvassing · fundraising · constituency · rally · endorsement · photo-op
Fraudulent person or thing
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- hollowEmpty within
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
perfunctory · pretense · affected · contrived · facade · veneer · disingenuous · two-faced
Casual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
- hobnobbingCasual social mingling
- connectionsRelationships between things
contacts · rapport · meet-and-greet · reception · mixer · gala · conference · outreach
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- campaigningActively pursuing political support
- caucusParty selection meeting
- bipartisanshipCooperation between political rivals
diplomacy · coalition · stump · canvassing · fundraising · constituency · rally · endorsement · photo-op · handshaking
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- hollowEmpty within
feigned · perfunctory · pretense · affected · contrived · facade · veneer · disingenuous · two-faced · empty
schmoozing
Casual strategic socializing
- minglingCasual social interaction
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
- hobnobbingCasual social mingling
connections · contacts · rapport · meet-and-greet · reception · mixer · gala · conference · outreach · engagement
glad-handssnubs
Intentional social rejections
cold-shoulders · ignores · rebuffs · shuns · brushes off
glad-hand, glad-handed, glad-handing, glad, gladly, gladness, gladder, gladdest, gladden