Definition

Adjective: 1. Slippery; causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide. This describes a surface that is smooth, wet, or icy, making it difficult to get a firm grip or footing.

Usage

The word "slippy" is used to describe a surface that lacks friction and is therefore hazardous to walk or stand on. It is synonymous with "slippery" and is often used in informal or regional contexts, particularly in British English.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Be careful, the floor is slippy where it was just mopped.
  • The slippy rocks made crossing the stream dangerous.
  • He lost control on the slippy road during the ice storm.

Advanced Usage

• "to be slippy": to be slippery.
  • The deck is slippy after the storm, so watch your step.
• "to get slippy": to become slippery.
  • The path gets very slippy in the autumn when the leaves are wet.

Variants and Related Words

• Slippery (adj): The more common and formal synonym for "slippy."
  • The politician gave a slippery answer to the question. (Note: "Slippery" can also be used figuratively to mean evasive or untrustworthy, a nuance less common with "slippy.")

Synonyms

• Slick: (especially of a wet surface) smooth and slippery.
• Greasy: covered with or resembling grease, causing slipperiness.
• Icy: covered with ice, very slippery.

Antonyms

• Grippy: providing good traction or grip.
• Rough: having an uneven or irregular surface, not smooth.
• Sticky: tending to adhere to things on contact.

Related Phrases

• As slippy as an eel: An informal simile emphasizing extreme slipperiness, often used figuratively for someone who is evasive.
  • Trying to get a straight answer from him is like trying to hold an eel—he's as slippy as one.

Adjective

1. causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
   • slippery sidewalks
   • a slippery bar of soap
   • the streets are still slippy from the rain