What it means
Used for someone who won’t commit to an opinion or decision and keeps wobbling around with maybe, dunno. It can also describe ideas, plans, or politics that are weak and watered down. It’s a bit of a slap, basically saying they’ve got no backbone and everyone else has to pick for them.
Usage examples
"You fancy Nando’s or the curry house? Dunno, whatever. Mate, stop being wishy-washy and pick one, or we’ll end up with tragic meal deals again."
"His apology was so wishy-washy I am still not sure whether he actually said sorry or just talked at me."
"Stop being so wishy-washy and pick a restaurant, we have been standing on this corner for twenty minutes."
"Don’t give me that wishy-washy answer, mate. Are you coming on the trip or not?"
"The whole proposal felt a bit wishy-washy, loads of soft words and no actual plan."
Where it comes from
It’s been around in English since the late 1600s. It grew from washy, which meant weak, thin, or watered down, especially about liquids. The rhyming double hit gave it extra comic wobble, and by the 1800s wishy-washy was firmly used for people, opinions, and plans that felt spineless or diluted.
