Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
English
Adj
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Definition
Of dubious or inferior quality, poorly-run; too easy to be taken seriously, trivial.
Etymology
From Mickey, a diminutive of the given name Michael, + mouse, referring to the species of the character. Walt Disney chose the name Mickey Mouse in 1928, changing it from Mortimer Mouse at the suggestion of his wife, Lillian, who felt the original name was too formal for the character's playful nature. The derogatory adjectival sense developed in the US after WWII, originally applied to dance music, then broadened.
Example Sentences
- ""They are putting a Mickey Mouse operation on the ice," added Gretzky, who extended apologies to New Jersey goaltenders Ron Low and Chico Resch."
- "You mean, somebody who, for example, is a retired Army officer, has been teaching, as you do in the Army about half the time for about 30 years, you mean he couldn't go in and teach in the school' cause he didn't take some Mickey Mouse course in education at a state university?"
- "California (78-67): This is no Mickey Mouse outfit, even though Disney is buying into the team. / The Angels didn't make many changes in personnel during the winter."
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