Backslapping is when people praise each other’s wins in a loud, hearty way — and often more than the praise is worth. The picture comes from slapping someone on the back after a deal or a goal, a gesture that is common among men in business and sport. Used as a critic’s word, it means the friendliness is a show: we clap each other so we all look good. You hear it about politics, company meetings, and award nights. It is not a kind word. It suggests the praise is too much, a bit fake, or both. The physical slap on the back is real, and people still do it; but when someone talks about “backslapping,” they usually mean the behaviour, not the hand hitting the jacket.

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