Wishy-washy
Wischiwaschi is the colloquial , often derogatory term for confused talk, the meaning of which is not clear to the listener. Cross-meaning, the word is also used for things that appear imprecise or superficial.
Etymologically, 'Wischiwaschi' is derived from the two word components 'Wisch' ('writing') and 'waschen' ('to chat'), whereby the similarity to the German word 'Gewäsch' cannot be overlooked. There is a reference to the English language ; there the noun wish-wash is just as present as the adjective wishy-washy , which has several meanings here, such as “ weakness of character”, “lack of taste”, general “weakness”, the “wateriness” of drinks, but also “lax "," Limp "," thin "or" bland ".
literature
- Christoph Gutknecht: All blooming nonsense - amazing word stories from madness to wishy-washy . 3rd edition, Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-406-57152-7 .
- Wishy-washy. In: Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm (Hrsg.): German dictionary . tape 30 : Wilb – Hyssop - (XIV, 2nd section). S. Hirzel, Leipzig 1960 ( woerterbuchnetz.de ).
