Dictionary Workbench Ondict

slippery

Dictionary entry view. Switch to definition mode above when you know the meaning but not the word.

slippery
slippery /ˈslɪpəri/ adjective
 Word Family: noun: slip, slipper, slippage, slipperiness; verb: slip; adjective: slippery
 Date: 1500-1600
 Origin: slipper 'slippery' (11-19 centuries), from Old English slipor
1. something that is slippery is difficult to hold, walk on etc because it is wet or greasy:
    In places, the path can be wet and slippery.
    Harry’s palms were slippery with sweat.
2. informal someone who is slippery cannot be trusted:
    Martin is a slippery customer (=someone you should not trust) so be careful what you say to him.
3. not having one clear meaning and able to be understood in different ways:
    the slippery notion of ‘standards’
4. (be on) a/the slippery slope British English informal used to talk about a process or habit that is difficult to stop and which will develop into something extremely bad
    (be on) a/the slippery slope to/towards
    He is on the slippery slope to a life of crime.
—slipperiness noun [uncountable]