slippery
adj/ˈslɪpəɹi/ · /ˈslɪpɹi/
Etymology From Middle English slipperie, an extended form ( + -y) of Middle English slipper, sliper (“slippery”), from Old English slipor (“slippery”), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (“smooth, slippery”), equivalent to slip + -er. Compare also Middle English slibbri, slubbri (“slippery”) borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slibberich (“slippery”). Cognate with German schlüpfrig (“slippery”), Danish slibrig (“slippery”), Swedish slipprig (“slippery”).
Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
- Oily substances render things slippery.
- The screeching of brakes, the monotonous blare of motor horns, the clip-clip of shoes on slippery pavements, the rustling of wet mackintoshes were all part of the great metropolis.1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 214:
Broadly, Figuratively Evasive; difficult to pin down.
- a slippery person
- a slippery promise
Obsolete Liable to slip; not standing firm.
- Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, / The love that leaned on them, as slippery too, / Do one pluck down another, and together / Die in the fall.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], line 84:
Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
- He looking down With scorn or pity on the slippery state Of kings, will tread upon the neck of fate.1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
Obsolete Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.
- My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess –c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 273:
- Synonyms
- glibbery, glidder, gliddery, greasy, lubric, lubricious, lubricous, slabbery, slape, slick, slidder, sliddery, slidey, slidy, slimy, slithery, slippery, slippery as an eel, slippy
- Antonyms
- adhesive, nonslippery, nonslip
- Derived terms
- nonslippery, slipperily, slipperiness, slippery as an eel, slippery dick, slippery dip, slippery elm, slippery jack, slippery nipple, Slippery Sam, slippery sequence, slippery slide, slippery slope, sloppery, unslippery
- Related terms
- slip
- Hyponyms
- rain-slickened, water-slickened, sloppery