sweetness and light
Noun 1. A state or display of pleasant agreeableness and mild reasonableness: This phrase describes a person's deliberately pleasant, kind, and reasonable demeanor, often one that is adopted or presented, especially after a previous state of disagreement or hostility.
The phrase is used to describe a person's overtly and sometimes surprisingly agreeable attitude. It often implies a conscious or noticeable change to a placid and charming manner. * It is typically used in the structure "all sweetness and light." * It can carry a slight nuance of skepticism, suggesting the displayed pleasantness might be superficial or temporary.
- After the argument, she was all sweetness and light, offering to help with everything.
- The manager can be very stern, but with clients he is always sweetness and light.
- He apologized and was suddenly all sweetness and light, which made me suspicious.
The phrase can imply that the displayed agreeable nature is in contrast to a person's usual character or a previous situation. It is sometimes used ironically to comment on behavior that seems excessively or insincerely pleasant.
- Agreeableness (n): The quality of being pleasant and easy to like.
- Amiability (n): The quality of having a friendly and pleasant manner.
- Affability (n): The quality of being friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to.
- Geniality
- Cordiality
- Pleasantness
- Hostility
- Bitterness
- Irascibility
- Acrimony
- To be all sweetness and light: To be completely and conspicuously pleasant and agreeable.
- Don't be fooled; she was angry earlier but now she's all sweetness and light.
- a mild reasonableness
- when he learned who I was he became all sweetness and light