slick
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Related to slicker: slacker, city slicker
(as) slick as a whistle
1. adjective Quick, smooth, skillful, or easy, as in manner or movement. My new scooter is slick as a whistle in traffic.
2. adverb In a quick, smooth, easy manner; quickly, skillfully, and neatly. Once she got into a rhythm, she had that wall built slick as a whistle. You should hear him on the phone, convincing clients as slick as a whistle to invest huge sums of money.
slick up
1. To cause something, usually hair, to stand on end with water, oil, gel, or some other product. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slick" and "up." I wanted to slick my hair up into spikes for our school photos, but Mom wouldn't let me.
2. To cause something to become more sleek, attractive, stylish, or sophisticated in appearance. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slick" and "up." I hate the way studios try to slick up music these days with all these computer enhancements and polish. These sorts of movies are inherently goofy and lowbrow—why try to slick them up?
slick down
To cause hair lie flat on the head with water, oil, gel, or some other product. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slick" and "down." I woke up with this annoying cowlick, and now I have to slick my hair down with gel. I've always liked the look of boys who slick their hair down and part it on one side.
slick back
To brush hair to the back of the head and cause it to lie flat with water, oil, gel, or some other product. A noun or pronoun can be used between "slick" and "back." I wanted to slick my hair back for our school photos, but mom wouldn't let me. Try slicking it back first, then style it from there.
*slick as a whistle
quickly and cleanly; quickly and skillfully. (*Also: as ~.) Tom took a broom and a mop and cleaned the place up as slick as a whistle. slick as a whistle, Sally pulled off the bandage.
slick something down
to brush or comb down hair, usually with some sort of dressing or water. He used something gooey—grease or something—to slick his hair down. Please slick down your hair. You look a mess.
slick something up
to tidy up something or some place. I have to slick this house up a little. Please slick up this room before company gets here.
slick as a whistle
Very-smooth and neat; also, smoothly, quickly, easily. For example, That salesman is as slick as a whistle, or The fence post went in place slick as a whistle. The allusion in this simile, first recorded in 1830, is not totally clear, but presumably it refers either to the ease of producing a whistle or to its clear tone.
slick back
v.
To cause something, especially hair, to lie flat by making it moist or oily and brushing it back: He wet his hands and slicked back his hair. She slicks her curls back with gel.
slick
1. mod. clever; glib. His talk is slick, but his action is zotz.
2. mod. excellent. That is a slick idea.
3. n. a high-quality magazine printed on slick [coated] paper. The slicks are all carrying ads for products and services that couldn’t even be mentioned a few years ago.
4. n. a racing tire. (Auto racing.) That set of wheels has slicks. I wonder why.
slick-chick
n. an attractive and cute girl. Tiffany is a slick-chick. I wonder if she’d go out with me.