What does it mean to speak Smarmily?
/ˈsmɑːr.məl.i/ in a smarmy way (= extremely polite in a way that is annoying): “Certainly, sir,” he replied smarmily.
What does it mean to be smarmy?
1 : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness a tone of smarmy self-satisfaction — New Yorker. 2 : of low sleazy taste or quality smarmy eroticism.
What does Zincous mean?
zincous in American English (ˈzɪŋkəs) adjective. pertaining to or containing zinc.
Where did the word smarmy come from?
The word comes from smarm, a verb, meaning first to smear, as in put pomade on your hair, and from that meaning to behave in an oily, obsequious, flattering way.
Where does smarmy come from?
“Smarm” appears to be rooted in the old English dialect word “smalm,” meaning “to smear the hair with pomade” (pomade being hair oil, what Vitalis TV commercials used to call “greasy kid stuff”).
Is smarmy an adjective?
adjective, smarm·i·er, smarm·i·est. excessively or unctuously flattering, ingratiating, servile, etc.: the emcee with the smarmy welcome.
Where does smarmy originate from?
smarm + -y Apparently coined by “B.R.L., of Brighton” with sense “saying treacly things which do not sound genuine” in a competition for neologisms in The Academy (London) published on 14 January 1899.
Is Zincous a word?
Zinc´ous. a. 1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, zinc; zincic; as, zincous salts.
Is unctuous good or bad?
Watch any cooking show lately and it’s likely you’ll hear someone describe a dish as “unctuous,” as if that’s a good thing. Many celebrity chefs seem to now use the word to suggest a dish is rich, smooth, or maybe even creamy.” Unctuous derives from a Latin word meaning ointment.
What is an oily person?
showing disapprovalpolite to people, but in an unpleasant way that does not seem sincere. He was an oily and repulsive little man. Synonyms and related words. Polite in an unpleasant or insincere way.
Is smarmy a British word?
smarmy in American English excessively or unctuously flattering, ingratiating, servile, etc.
