Definition of slippery

slipperyadjective

trơn

/ˈslɪpəri//ˈslɪpəri/

The word "slippery" derives from the Old English word "slipran," which means "prone to sliding." The root of this term is "slip," which described the act of slipping or sliding. The suffix "-y" was added to the word in Middle English to create a more delicate meaning, expressing the idea of something being difficult to grasp or hold onto. Initially, "slippery" referred to objects that were wet, slippery, or smooth, like the muddy or oily surfaces that made it challenging to walk or grip things. As time progressed, the meaning of the word expanded to encompass ideas of deception, dissimulation, and evasiveness, which have become essential parts of modern usage. Today, "slippery" has come to signify individuals who are slippery, difficult to pin down or foil, elusive, or duplicitous. In conclusion, the term "slippery" has evolved over time, starting as a simple way to describe surfaces that made it challenging to walk, then evolving into the term that we know today, with a more complex meaning that touches on the ideas of evasiveness and deception.

namespace

difficult to hold or to stand or move on, because it is smooth, wet or polished

khó cầm, đứng hoặc di chuyển vì nó trơn, ướt hoặc bóng

Example:
  • slippery like a fish

    trơn như cá

  • In places the path can be wet and slippery.

    Ở những nơi đường đi có thể ẩm ướt và trơn trượt.

  • His hand was slippery with sweat.

    Bàn tay anh trơn trượt vì mồ hôi.

Extra examples:
  • The concrete gets slippery when it's wet.

    Bê tông trơn trượt khi bị ướt.

  • The oil made the ground slippery and treacherous to walk on.

    Dầu làm cho mặt đất trơn trượt và khó đi lại.

  • Watch out—the floor's a bit slippery.

    Hãy cẩn thận, sàn hơi trơn.

  • rocks that were slippery with seaweed

    những tảng đá trơn trượt với rong biển

that you cannot trust

mà bạn không thể tin tưởng

Example:
  • Don't believe what he says—he's a slippery customer (= person).

    Đừng tin những gì anh ấy nói—anh ấy là một khách hàng khó tính (= người).

difficult to deal with and that you have to think about carefully

khó giải quyết và bạn phải suy nghĩ cẩn thận

Example:
  • Freedom is a slippery concept (= because its meaning changes according to your point of view).

    Tự do là một khái niệm khó nắm bắt (= vì ý nghĩa của nó thay đổi theo quan điểm của bạn).

  • International law is notoriously slippery.

    Luật pháp quốc tế nổi tiếng là khó hiểu.

Idioms

the/a slippery slope
a course of action that is difficult to stop once it has begun, and can lead to serious problems or disaster
  • She realized he was on the slippery slope towards a life of crime.