Quick answer: glazing (Disapproving or self-mocking praise label) — Giving someone or something excessive praise; the label suggests the admiration is over the top, unwarranted or annoying. Meanwhile, virtue signaling (informal conversational) — Publicly expressing an approved opinion primarily to demonstrate moral alignment and earn social status within a peer group.
1. glazing ↗
Category: Internet essentials
Register: Disapproving or self-mocking praise label
Regions: Online
Giving someone or something excessive praise; the label suggests the admiration is over the top, unwarranted or annoying.
When it fits: Recognize the complaint about excess. If you are giving criticism, point to the actual claim rather than treating any enthusiasm as automatically unreasonable.
When to avoid: Avoid assuming that every compliment is excessive or that calling something glazing disproves the opinion being expressed. The label is not an argument by itself.
“You called every scene perfect; the glazing is getting ridiculous.”
In plain English: Your excessive praise for every scene is getting ridiculous.
2. virtue signaling ↗
Category: Social & memes
Register: informal conversational
Regions: US, UK, IE, Online
Publicly expressing an approved opinion primarily to demonstrate moral alignment and earn social status within a peer group.
When it fits: Use “virtue signaling” in casual conversation, messaging, or sociolinguistic discussion when the listener shares the register and context makes the tone unmistakable.
When to avoid: Avoid relying on “virtue signaling” in formal academic, legal, clinical, or HR correspondence where unambiguous plain English prevents misinterpretation.
“Everyone in the group chat recognized “virtue signaling” immediately, even though we had to rephrase it in plain English for the project summary.”
In plain English: Everyone in the chat understood the informal expression (publicly expressing an approved opinion primarily to demonstrate moral alignment and earn social status within a peer group.), though we used standard wording in the formal report.
Test both expressions in context
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