oily
/ˈɔɪli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔɪli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯi-lē/ (ame, mw)
oily — adjective
- oilypositive
- oiliercomparative
- oiliestsuperlative
1. having the texture, smell, taste, or shiny appearance of oil — for example, a sl
having the texture, smell, taste, or shiny appearance of oil — for example, a slick patch of liquid on the road or skin that shines because it produces too much natural grease.
The puddle near the gas pump had a strange oily shine in the sunlight.
describing surface appearance: oily shine / sheen
Maya's forehead felt oily by lunchtime, so she carried small blotting papers.
describing skin texture
Dr. Patel warned that an oily smell from the engine often means a leak.
The salad dressing left an oily taste on Carlos's tongue long after dinner.
After the storm, the harbor water looked dark and oily.
- greasy
stronger and more negative; suggests unpleasant residue
- slick
focuses on the smooth, slippery surface look
- oleaginous
formal or technical; rare in everyday speech
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes how something looks, feels, smells, or tastes (a quality), while sense 2 describes literal contact with oil or a high oil content.
常見錯誤
2. coated with oil on the outside, or holding a large amount of oil or fat inside —
coated with oil on the outside, or holding a large amount of oil or fat inside — said of objects, hands, food, or fish such as salmon and sardines that are naturally rich in oils.
Marcus wiped his oily hands on a rag before shaking the customer's hand.
covered with oil: oily hands / fingers
The mechanic kept a pile of oily rags in a metal box to prevent fires.
collocation: oily rag / cloth
The fries were so oily that grease soaked right through the paper bag.
Doctors recommend eating oily fish like salmon twice a week for heart health.
Lina slipped on the oily kitchen floor near the deep fryer.
- greasy
more negative; usually about unwanted grease on food or surfaces
- fatty
used of food only; focuses on fat content rather than oil coating
- oil-soaked
stronger; suggests oil has been absorbed all the way through
用法筆記
Subject is usually a physical object, body part, food, or fish. With food this can be negative (greasy, unhealthy) or positive ('oily fish' means high in healthy omega-3 oils) — context decides which.
常見錯誤
3. behaving in a smooth, overly polite way that feels false and makes other people
behaving in a smooth, overly polite way that feels false and makes other people uncomfortable, as if the person is trying to win you over for their own benefit.
The car salesman gave Lina an oily smile and praised her excellent taste.
describing manner: oily smile
Voters distrusted the mayor's oily charm during the televised debate.
collocation: oily charm / manner
There was something oily about the man who kept offering Marcus free drinks.
Carlos hated the oily voice his uncle used when asking for money.
The waiter's oily compliments did not earn him a bigger tip from the table.
- smarmy
very close in meaning; informal British
- unctuous
more formal and literary; same insincere quality
- ingratiating
neutral-to-negative; focuses on trying hard to please
- slick
broader; can also mean clever or skilled, not always negative
用法筆記
Always negative and mildly insulting. Subject is usually a person or one of their behaviors (smile, voice, charm, compliments). Often appears in 'an oily [salesman/politician/manager]'. Distinct from sense 1 — this is figurative, never literal.