nam ‧ by-pam ‧ by /ˌnæmbi ˈpæmbi◂/ BrE AmE adjective informal
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Origin: Name given to the English poet Ambrose Philips (1674-1749) to make fun of him ]
too weak and gentle and not strict or ↑ tough enough:
For some people soccer has a reputation as a rather namby-pamby sport.
—namby-pamby noun [countable]