singing Kumbaya
Bonfire group vocals
Singing Kumbaya describes naive or sentimental displays of unity and harmony, often used dismissively.
The phrase comes from the campfire spiritual "Kumbaya," which became associated with earnest but ineffective togetherness: We can't solve this crisis by sitting around singing Kumbaya.
The implication is that superficial gestures of goodwill substitute for substantive action.
- songMusical piece with words
- naivetyInnocent lack of experience
- rose-colored glassesMetaphor for naive optimism
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- unityWholeness through cohesion
folk song · idealism · harmony · peace · peace and love · good vibes · optimism · community · one big happy family · sentimentalism · wishful thinking · bonding · empathy · conflict avoidance · conflict resolution · inclusivity · collaboration · gatherings
singing Kumbayaat each other's throats
fighting · at war · feuding · infighting · taking sides
singing Kumbayaplaying hardball
Using ruthless tactics
getting down to brass tacks · calling a spade a spade · laying down the law · realpolitik · reading the riot act
singing Kumbayadog-eat-dog
Ruthlessly self-interested competition
every man for himself · survival of the fittest · hardball · realpolitik · winner-take-all
sing, sings, singer, singers, singing, singable, singsong, Kumbaya