# slick

/ˈsɫɪk/ (US) · /slˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slick
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. slippery

adjective · CEFR B2

smooth and slippery, usually because of water, oil, or ice.

For teachers: having a smooth, slippery surface, typically due to a coating of liquid or ice.

- The roads were slick with rain after the first storm of the season.
- The pavement became incredibly slick as the light drizzle mixed with oil deposits from the heavy morning traffic.

### 2. professional and stylish

adjective · CEFR B2

done in a very clever and professional way that looks expensive.

For teachers: executed with a high degree of professional skill and polish, often implying a sophisticated appearance.

- The company released a slick new advertisement during the game.
- The presentation was incredibly slick, featuring seamless transitions and high-definition graphics that clearly impressed the investors.

### 3. untrustworthy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

clever and persuasive but in a way that feels dishonest.

For teachers: persuasive and clever in a way that suggests a lack of sincerity or honesty.

- Don't be fooled by that slick salesman and his empty promises.
- He had a slick manner that made many people instinctively distrust his motives, despite his apparent charm.

### 4. a layer of liquid

noun · CEFR B2

a thin layer of liquid, like oil, floating on the surface of water.

For teachers: a thin, smooth layer of liquid, especially oil, spread over a surface or floating on water.

- The coast guard worked quickly to clean up the oil slick near the beach.
- An enormous oil slick spread across the bay following the tanker's collision, threatening local wildlife habitats.

### 5. racing tire

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a smooth tire without any patterns, used for racing on dry tracks.

For teachers: a smooth tire without a tread pattern, designed to provide maximum traction on dry racing surfaces.

- The driver changed to slicks because the track had finally dried out.
- As the racing line dried, the lead driver opted for a set of slicks to gain a competitive advantage in the final laps.

### 6. to make smooth

verb · CEFR B2

to make hair or a surface smooth and shiny, often using water or oil.

For teachers: to make a surface or hair smooth and glossy, typically by applying a liquid or gel.

- He slicked his hair back with some gel before the wedding.
- The stylist slicked the model's hair into a tight bun to emphasize her facial features for the photoshoot.

## Examples

- The salesman gave a very slick presentation.
- The company launched a slick advertising campaign that quickly went viral across all social media platforms.
- While the film's production values were undeniably slick, critics argued that the glossy visuals could not compensate for a fundamentally hollow and derivative script.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.