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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Slippery: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：hard to stand on (slippery)

slippery 🔊

/ˈslɪpəri/

adj.

A surface that is wet, smooth, or oily and can cause you to lose your balance and fall.

Slippery surface illustration: a foot slipping on wet leaves on a sidewalk.

hard to stand on 🔊

➕

/hɑːrd tuː stænd ɒn/

adj.

Describes a surface that lacks sufficient friction, making it easy to slip or lose balance.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'slip' (to slide) + '-y' (adjective suffix), meaning prone to slipping.

💡 Mnemonic

Slip on a banana peel for physical slipperiness; slip out of promises for metaphorical slipperiness.

📖 Example

After the rain, slippery leaves covered the park path, so I walked very carefully. 🔊 Following the rainfall, the park path was covered with leaves that were slippery, necessitating cautious walking.

🔗 Collocations

slippery slope – a situation that gradually leads to worse outcomes

slippery when wet – a warning for surfaces that become slippery due to moisture

slippery surface – a surface prone to causing slips

🔄 Synonyms

slick (adj.) – smooth and slippery, often due to being wet or oily

greasy (adj.) – covered with grease, making it slippery

glassy (adj.) – smooth and shiny like glass, potentially slippery

🚫 Antonyms

rough (adj.) – having an uneven surface that provides good grip

dry (adj.) – not wet, thus less slippery

🌱 Derivatives

slipperiness (n.) – the quality of being slippery

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Old English 'slipor', related to 'slip'. Commonly used in warnings like 'Slippery When Wet' signs, emphasizing safety in wet conditions.

Meaning 2：unreliable or deceitful (slippery)

slippery 🔊

/ˈslɪpəri/

adj.

A person who is not honest or direct, and you cannot easily trust what they say or promise.

Slippery person concept: an elusive figure with an ambiguous expression.

unreliable or deceitful 🔊

➕

/ʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl ɔːr dɪˈsiːtfəl/

adj.

Describes a person who is not honest or straightforward, making them difficult to trust.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Be careful with that salesperson; he has a reputation for being slippery and not keeping his promises. 🔊 Exercise caution with that salesperson, as he is known to be slippery and unreliable in keeping promises.

🔗 Collocations

slippery character – a person who is untrustworthy or evasive

slippery as an eel – extremely difficult to pin down or trust

slippery dealings – dishonest or shady transactions

🔄 Synonyms

evasive (adj.) – avoiding direct answers or commitment

deceitful (adj.) – intending to mislead or trick

untrustworthy (adj.) – not deserving trust or confidence

🚫 Antonyms

honest (adj.) – truthful and straightforward

reliable (adj.) – consistently dependable and trustworthy