a. slang. [Cf. LA-DI-DA.] Characteristic of an affected swell; languidly foppish.
1861. Miss Braddon, Trail Serpent, IV. vi. 227. You’re not much good, my friend, says I, with your lardy-dardy ways, and your cold-blooded words, whoever you are.
1874. Punch, 14 March, 109/1. This only when the lardy-dardy swells are present.
1887. Illustr. Lond. News, 15 Oct., 448. The modern ‘lardy-dardy’ school [of acting].
Hence Lardy-dardy v. intr., to act the swell, to ‘do the la-di-da.’
1887. G. R. Sims, Mary Jane’s Mem., 58. Other men were lardy-dardying about … enjoying themselves.
