negative nancy

plural negative nancies · plural negative nancys

1. Alternative letter-case form of negative Nancy.

   They’ve been called “prostitutes” for their outfit choices, to which Little Mix have replied, somewhat adorably, “We don't care for negative nancies”.

   2019 September 13, Alice Vincent, “It's not just Jesy Nelson – bullies and misogynistic music snobs have trolled Little Mix since day one”, in Chris Evans, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2024

   4 more examples

   Ms [Stephanie] Becker posted a message on Facebook saying: 'I chew gum louder than you talk. But don’t ask me to quiet down. I am NO negative nancy. I roll with the punches.'

   2012 October 7, Sam Adams, Beth Stebner, Daily Mail Reporter, “Consultant who fell to her death from Manhattan tower 'had tried to kill herself before' as friends pay tribute to bubbly young woman”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 07 Oct 2012

   You're being a negative nancy if you think it's a dark moment or a mar on Survivor history. It certainly started in a dark place, but the conduct of my tribe mates and the masterful conducting of Jeff Probst definitely made it into something great.

   2017 May 4, Josh Wigler, quoting Zeke Smith, “Zeke Smith Speaks Out About His 'Survivor' Experience (and That Very Public Outing)”, in The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles, Calif.: Eldridge Industries, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 May 2017

   However, a number of people defended the TV groom's portrayal on the Channel Nine show, encouraging him to ignore the negativity. 'Listen to these negative nancies. Don't sweat it...It's either meant to be or not meant to be!! End of story!'

   2018 February 25, Caleb Taylor, “'He's just on the show to build his brand and himself': Fans hit out at Married At First Sight groom Justin Fischer accusing him of only using the show for self-promotion”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2018

   Despite the backlash, some Kardashian fans pushed back against the negativity. 'Why are there so many negative nancys in these comments? It's wonderful that DJs is stocking new and different brands,' wrote one.

   2022 July 1, J. Peterson, “Kim Kardashian divides Australian fans as 'disappointed' shoppers complain about her Skims clothing line being stocked in David Jones”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Jul 2022

plural negative Nancies · plural negative Nancys · alternative Negative Nancy · alternative negative nancy

1. derogatoryidiomaticinformalA person who is considered excessively and disagreeably pessimistic.

   2001, Sara Jane Sluke, Vanessa Torres, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dealing with Stress for Teens "Be wary of being a Negative Nancy."

   3 more examples

   "You're being negative Nancy today,"

   2002, Angela Winters, Dangerous Memories - Page 133

   "Finally, if you tell a Negative Nancy about your secret plans, she might doubt that you'll get your heart's desire."

   2008, B. Jain Publishers, Cosmic Love - Page 15

   “Don’t worry about the basement Bobbys or negative Nancys,” read the sign held by Morgan Morrison, 28, the mother of a second grader who “lost her mask on the second day.”

   2020 August 12, Richard Fausset, “925 Quarantined for Covid. Is This a Successful School Reopening?”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 Aug 2020

   Synonyms: Debbie Downer, negative Ned, negative Nelly · Antonyms: positive Polly

plural Negative Nancies · plural Negative Nancys

1. Alternative letter-case form of negative Nancy.

   Do you hate bad grammar? Do you hate it most of all when it’s used by some Negative Nancy in the comments section of your favorite Web site?

   2009 July 27, Macy Halford, “Whacked Out”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Jul 2021

   5 more examples

   Various Negative Nancys spent Thursday puzzling over what ABC News was thinking by hiring someone outside the box, with little knowledge of domestic politics, to anchor "This Week."

   2010 March 19, Lisa de Moraes, “Off the road, but onto the Beltway, as [Christiane] Amanpour takes over ABC’s ’This Week’”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025

   Why should anyone have to pay out of their own pockets to take a vacation? Oh, the humanity. Sure, there are some Negative Nancies out there. Predictably, from the doomsayers over at Fox News. “That is what happens when government looks after you,” Neil Cavuto writes. “It looks after ‘all’ of you and ‘all’ you do. Your ‘stimulus’ and now your ‘suitcase.’

   2010 April 21, Jimmy Orr, “Opinion: No free vacation this year? Your human rights may have been violated (at least in Europe)”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Jun 2022

   Sixty percent of today's workers do not expect to be paid a benefit -⁠- that's a benefit -⁠- from Social Security after they retire. Whoa there, Negative Nancies. The program is projected to pay out 100% of benefits until the mid-2030s. After that, the program isn't broken or busted. Instead it will be able to pay about 75% of inflation-adjusted benefits.

   2010 July 20, Derek Thompson, “6 in 10 Workers Don't Think They'll Ever Get Social Security”, in James Bennet, editor, The Atlantic, Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2010

   “I was very excited to hear people talk to me about ‘[American] Idol’ a lot and say that this year kind of reinvigorated their interest,” he said. “It’s not the Negative Nancy thing anymore, you know: ‘It’s on the way out, it’s no good, I don’t like the judges.’ This season it seems like: ‘I like the judges, I like the contestants, nobody’s clamoring for airtime.’ I think there’s a unilateral focus on the show and really trying to create a star in this business.”

   2014 March 7, Lyndsey Parker, “Silver Bulletpoints: 11 Things We Just Learned From Taylor Hicks”, in Rolling Stone, New York, N.Y.: Penske Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2023

   All this said, there is a big bright spot for every Negative Nancy out there: by simply changing your perspective, you may just improve your health.

   2015 July 8, Adam Hoffman, “Can Negative Thinking Make You Sick?”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2015