Dictionary

Mary Poppins-esque en · ADJ

Etymology

From Mary Poppins + -esque.

Meanings

1. Resembling or characteristic of the Mary Poppins book series and its adaptations or their eponymous protagonist, a magical English nanny.
   • Smiling, he would devote his attention to each person who asked something of him, digging through one of the many pouches on his Mary Poppins-esque vest and providing what was asked for. 2020 July 30, Taylor Perse, “Boop Troop Rises”, in Eugene Weekly, volume 39, number 31, page 10, column 2:
   • Her voice became high and Mary Poppins-esque. 2016, Cate Holahan, The Widower’s Wife, New York, N.Y.: Crooked Lane, →ISBN, page 287:
   • ‘Sleep,’ he said quietly, before pulling a bottle of water from her Mary Poppins-esque make-up bag. 2014, Jennifer Rae, Confessions of a Bad Bridesmaid, Mills & Boon, →ISBN, page 53:
   • Coral clasped her hands, gave a Mary Poppins-esque click of her heels and launched into a well-rehearsed speech. 2015, Christine Melville Kenworthy, Gathering Nuts, →ISBN, page 114:
   • The Nanny Connection […] on Maui is a reputable business that sends experienced Mary Poppins-esque nannies to resorts and beaches to watch children for $19 per hour and up, depending on the number of children and holiday hours. 2015, Martha Cheng, Jeanne Cooper, Shannon Wianecki, Frommer’s Hawaii 2015, FrommerMedia LLC, →ISBN, page 517:
   • Since 1981, Bailitz, whom many may know from his “Mary Poppins”-esque top hat and tails get-up at home shows and festivals, has, despite the whimsical marketing play, been taking chimney sweeping and safety very seriously. 2004 November 4, Melanie Csepiga, “Don’t let safety go up in smoke”, in The Times, page F3:
   • Despite the well-realised first act, in which the Mary Poppins-esque world of the picture-perfect Edwardian nursery is lovingly evoked, Dexter can’t solve the eternal problem of the derailing of Barrie’s script once the action transfers to Neverland. 2003 December 18, Fiona Mountford, “Peter could do better”, in Evening Standard, page 39:
   • One direction is pure Mary Poppins'''-esque rooftops and chimneys, while the other is possibly one of the best places in the capital to watch the Royal London Hospital’s helicopter ambulance ascend and descend. 2022 February 11, Joanna Whitehead, “10 of the best romantic hotels in London for Valentine’s Day”, in The Independent, archived from the original on 28 Mar 2023:
   • June retrieved a flask of whisky from her magical Mary Poppins-esque handbag and passed it my way, saying, ‘Medicinal.’ 2017, Kathy Lette, Best-Laid Plans, Bantam Press, →ISBN, page 254:
   • “That’s all we have right now,” I say in my most Mary Poppins-esque tone. 2005, Michelle Kennedy, Without a Net: Middle Class and Homeless (with Kids) in America: My Story, Viking, →ISBN, page 96:
   • My mom pushed her perfectly coiffed head through the doorway, and flashed me a blinding Mary Poppins-esque smile. 2006, Kaavya Viswanathan, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life, Time Warner Books, →ISBN, page 33:
   • If the delicious crepes (€12.50) and crab meat sandwiches (€13.50) don't impress, perhaps the eccentric, Mary Poppins-esque interior will. 2006, Let’s Go: Ireland, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 319:

Forms

Synonyms

Mary Poppinsy