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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Greasy Definition: Physical & Figurative Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：oily (greasy)

greasy 🔊

/ˈɡriːsi/

adj.

covered with or full of fat or oil, making something feel or look slick and unclean.

oily 🔊

➕

/ˈɔɪli/

adj.

Describing a surface or substance covered with or containing a lot of fat or oil, which feels slick, slippery, and often unclean to the touch.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Middle English 'gresy', from 'grese' (grease) + '-y' (adjective-forming suffix).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'GREASE-Y' ends. If something is GREASE-Y, it feels YUCKY or SLICK.

📖 Example

After eating the fried chicken, my fingers felt greasy and I needed to wash them. 🔊 Following the consumption of fried chicken, my fingers had an oily sensation, necessitating that I clean them.

🔗 Collocations

greasy food – food that is cooked with or contains a high amount of oil or fat

greasy hair – hair that appears oily and unwashed

greasy spoon – an informal term for a small, cheap restaurant serving fried food

🔄 Synonyms

oily (adj.) – containing or covered with oil; similar in texture.

slick (adj.) – smooth and slippery, often because of being wet or greasy.

fatty (adj.) – containing a lot of fat.

🚫 Antonyms

dry (adj.) – free from moisture, oil, or wetness.

matte (adj.) – having a dull, non-reflective surface, not shiny or oily.

🌱 Derivatives

grease (n./v.) – (n.) a thick oily substance; (v.) to apply grease to something.

greasiness (n.) – the quality or state of being greasy.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'grease' originates from Latin 'crassus' (thick, fat), entering English via Old French 'gresse'. Historically, 'greasy' often described literal fat or grime, but its figurative use for insincere behavior emerged later, reflecting distaste for slickness.

Meaning 2：unctuous (greasy)

greasy 🔊

/ˈɡriːsi/

adj.

describing a person or behavior that is overly flattering and insincere, making others feel uncomfortable.

Greasy behavior example depicting an insincere, overly flattering person in a suit.

unctuous 🔊

➕

/ˈʌŋktʃuəs/

adj.

Describing a person, their manner, or behavior that is excessively flattering, smooth, and insincere, often in a way that induces discomfort or distrust.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The salesman had a greasy smile and kept making promises he probably couldn't keep. 🔊 The sales representative wore an insincerely smooth smile and continued to offer assurances he was likely unable to fulfill.

🔗 Collocations

greasy charm – a smooth but insincere and unpleasant type of charisma

greasy politician – a politician perceived as slick, dishonest, or overly ingratiating

🔄 Synonyms

unctuous (adj.) – excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.

slick (adj.) – (of a person) deft and skillful but often superficial or dishonest.

smarmy (adj.) – ingratiating and wheedling in a way that is perceived as insincere or excessive.

🚫 Antonyms

genuine (adj.) – truly what something is said to be; sincere and honest.

blunt (adj.) – uncompromisingly straightforward and honest, even if tactless.