glittering generality

[ glit-er-ing jen-uh-ral-i-tee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a word or phrase that is used primarily to appeal to a person's emotions and values:
They used glittering generalities like “freedom,” “civilization,” and “democracy” to boost support for the movement without talking about how to achieve those lofty goals.

First recorded in 1845–50

Carter replied with a glittering generality: Your Uncle Sam has rolled up his shirt sleeves and means business.

In Virginia, it was simply a glittering generality—it had no legal meaning.

A sentence like this has all the ear-marks of a glittering generality.

With this as a text and as a glittering generality, let me touch upon one or two practical essentials.

Political freedom as a glittering generality is a thing of no reality.

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