grease

B1 · Intermediate

v. to put oil or fat on something so it moves easily or doesn't stick.

v. to apply grease or fat to a surface, typically to reduce friction or to prepare a surface for cooking.

“You should grease the baking tin before you pour in the cake mix.”

“The technician had to grease the hinges of the heavy hangar doors to ensure they opened silently during the night shift.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to give someone money secretly so they will help you.

v. to bribe someone in order to facilitate a desired outcome; often used in the phrase 'grease someone's palm'.

“He had to grease a few palms to get the building permit approved quickly.”

“The investigation revealed that the contractor had been greasing the palms of local officials for years to secure lucrative government tenders.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Slang · Technical

v. to land an airplane very smoothly.

v. to perform an exceptionally smooth landing, where the transition from flight to ground contact is barely perceptible.

“The pilot managed to grease the landing despite the strong crosswinds.”

“Even with the gusty conditions at the airport, the captain managed to grease the landing, much to the relief of the nervous passengers.”

C2 · Proficiency Slang · Vulgar

v. to kill someone.

v. to murder or assassinate someone.

“In the movie, the mobster threatened to grease anyone who talked to the police.”

“The gritty crime novel depicted a world where rivals were greased over the slightest perceived insult to a gang leader's reputation.”