Definition

Verb: * To make something, especially hair, smooth, glossy, and lie flat by applying a liquid or substance. It involves the action of grooming to achieve a neat, shiny appearance.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the specific action of smoothing and glossing hair or, less commonly, a surface. It often implies using a product like oil, gel, or water. It is typically used in informal contexts.

Examples

• He used gel to sleek down his unruly curls before the interview.
• She sleeked down her hair with a bit of water and a comb.
• The barber sleeked down the customer's hair with pomade.

Advanced Usage

• The phrasal verb can be used figuratively to mean to make something appear more polished, controlled, or less obvious, though this is less common.
  • The company tried to sleek down the negative report with careful PR.

Variants and Related Words

• Sleek (verb): To make smooth and glossy. ("He sleeked his hair back.")
• Slick down (verb): A very common synonym with identical meaning. ("He slicked down his hair.")

Synonyms

• Smooth down
• Flatten
• Gloss
• Slick back (specifically implies combing hair away from the face)

Phrasal Verbs

• Sleek down is itself a phrasal verb. A closely related form is slick down.

Verb

1. give a smooth and glossy appearance
   • slick one's hair