Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Deceptively skillful or clever: Describes something or someone that is clever in a way that is often deceptive or insincere.
   • Smooth and glossy: Describes a surface that is very smooth, shiny, and often slippery.
   • Superficially plausible but lacking depth: Describes speech, writing, or style that appears impressive or convincing on the surface but is shallow or insincere.
   • Slippery: Describes a surface made slippery by a substance like oil, ice, or water.

2. Noun:

   • A smooth, oily area on a surface: A film or patch of something oily or greasy, especially on water.
   • A tool for smoothing: A trowel or similar tool used to make a surface smooth.
   • A high-quality magazine: (Informal) A magazine printed on glossy, high-quality paper.

3. Verb:

   • To make smooth and glossy: To smooth down or make something shiny, especially hair.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The salesman gave a slick presentation that hid the product's flaws.
  • The car's slick paint job reflected the sunlight.
  • His slick excuses didn't convince anyone.
  • Be careful, the roads are slick after the rain.

• Noun:

  • A slick of oil polluted the harbor.
  • The worker used a slick to apply the plaster evenly.
  • She bought a fashion slick at the airport.

• Verb:

  • He slicked his hair back with gel before the interview.

Advanced Usage

• "Slick as" similes: Often used in similes to emphasize smoothness or slipperiness.

  • The floor was slick as ice.
  • He's slick as a whistle. (meaning very quick and efficient)

• "Slick up" (phrasal verb, informal): To make something neat, tidy, or attractive.

  • They slicked up the old car for the show.

Variants and Related Words

• Slickly (adverb): In a smooth, efficient, or deceptively clever manner.
  • The operation ran slickly.
• Slickness (noun): The quality of being slick.
  • The slickness of the surface made it dangerous.
• Slicker (noun): 1. A waterproof coat. 2. (Informal) A clever, sophisticated city person, often implying they are untrustworthy.

Synonyms

• Adjective (clever): Glib, cunning, sly, wily, smooth-talking.
• Adjective (smooth): Glossy, sleek, shiny, polished, slippery.
• Noun (oil patch): Sheen, film, spill.
• Verb (smooth): Smoothen, plaster down, sleek.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Slick back/down: To smooth hair against the head.
  • He slicked back his hair.

Related Idioms

• Slick operator: A person who is very clever and effective, often in a manipulative way.
  • Be careful negotiating with him; he's a real slick operator.

Adjective

1. marked by skill in deception
   • cunning men often pass for wise
   • deep political machinations
   • a foxy scheme
   • a slick evasive answer
   • sly as a fox
   • tricky Dick
   • a wily old attorney
2. having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
   • glossy auburn hair
   • satiny gardenia petals
   • sleek black fur
   • silken eyelashes
   • silky skin
   • a silklike fabric
   • slick seals and otters
3. having only superficial plausibility
   • glib promises
   • a slick commercial
4. made slick by e.g. ice or grease
   • sidewalks slick with ice
   • roads are slickest when rain has just started and hasn't had time to wash away the oil

Noun

1. a trowel used to make a surface slick
2. a film of oil or garbage floating on top of water
3. a magazine printed on good quality paper
4. a slippery smoothness
   • he could feel the slickness of the tiller

Verb

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