Meaning of Pollyanna | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A female given name from Hebrew derived from Polly and Anna; rare in the real world.
2. One who is persistently cheerful and optimistic, even when given cause not to be so.
3. A secret Santa gift exchange.
   Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania, Southeastern, US, colloquial

Equivalents

Examples

“Pollyanna Pocket was small, with long floppy ears and a tail that coiled upwards in a little ringlet. She was a bouncy, happy young dog, who frolicked all day”

“You call her an optimist, but I call her an obnoxious Pollyanna.”

“I never wanna hear / From any cheerful Pollyannas / Who tell you Fate supplies a mate / It's all bananas”

“‘Next time we’re going to have fun, OK?’ I wanted this album to go towards the light. You indulge in the grief to a certain point, but then you have to be a little bit Pollyanna.””

CEFR level