Mutual Admiration 🧐
When Thoreau initially coined the term “mutual admiration” in 1851, he likely didn’t foresee how it would evolve into a somewhat sarcastic expression. Back then, it purely meant a reciprocal feeling of esteem. However, Oliver Wendell Holmes amplified its resonance with his work The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table in 1858.
Definition:
A shared feeling of esteem, real or pretended, between two individuals for each other.
Synonyms:
- Reciprocal respect
- Mutual regard
- Sympathetic admiration
- Shared esteem
Antonyms:
- One-sided admiration
- Mutual contempt
- Reciprocal disdain
Family of Phrases and Idioms:
Related Terms:
- Back-scratching 👋: Exchanging favors, often critiqued for being sycophantic.
- Patting each other on the back 👏: Congratulating one another, often excessively.
- Political correctness 🌐: Saying the ‘right’ things to gain favor or avoid offense.
Similar Phrases:
- Two peas in a pod 🟢: Almost identical individuals sharing similar views.
- Birds of a feather flock together 🦆: People with similar interests stick together.
- You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours 🪶: Favor for a favor.
Proverbs:
- “He who praises everybody, praises nobody.” 🗣️
Fun with Literature and Art:
- Book: The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes
- Literature: Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
- Poetry: “Friendship” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quoting the Fun:
“Mutual admiration societies are to society what pillow fights are to war: entertaining, harmless, and wholly without consequence.” — Unknown 😆
In Popular Culture:
- Movie: The Devil Wears Prada (2006) 🎬
- Song: “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper 🎶
- TV Show: Parks and Recreation Season 3, Episode 11: “Jerry’s Painting”
👀 Thought-Provoking Titles:
- “Admiration or Adulation? 😏”: Exploring the thin line between genuine respect and over-the-top flattery.
- “The Pillow Fight: Inside a Mutual Admiration Society 🛏️”: Comparing the harmless playfulness of a mutual admiration relationship to a pillow fight.
- “Flattery or Friendship? 🤔”: Understanding the dynamics of modern mutual admiration dealings.
Inspirational Farewell:
“Admiration can be genuine or painted in hues of pretense. Choose your mutual admirers wisely, for it is better to be loved by one truly than adored falsely by many.” 🌟
### Which of these is considered mutual admiration?
- [x] Back-scratching
- [ ] Cold shoulder
- [ ] Tongue-tied talking
- [ ] Butterfly effect
> **Explanation:** Back-scratching involves reciprocal actions favoring both individuals, akin to mutual admiration.
### What does 'birds of a feather flock together' imply?
- [ ] Solitary lives
- [ ] Random gatherings
- [x] Similar individuals sticking together
- [ ] Enemy congregation
> **Explanation:** The saying suggests that people with similar interests or attitudes often group together, much like mutual admiration societies.
### True or False: Mutual admiration can sometimes be sarcastic.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** It can indeed be used sarcastically to describe individuals who lavish compliments on each other without genuine respect.
