oily
/ˈɔɪ.li/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Covered with or containing oil. It can describe food, skin, hair, water, or surfaces that feel slick or greasy.
- My face gets oily in hot weather.
- This curry feels a little oily.
- The floor was oily and slippery.
- 2.
Showing too much smoothness or flattery in a way that feels fake. This use is common for a person's voice, smile, or manner.
- He gave me an oily smile.
- Her oily praise sounded dishonest.
- The salesman had an oily voice.
Adinary Nuance
Oily is more specific than greasy. It often describes something that literally has oil on it, or a smooth, fake manner. Greasy is more common for food and dirty surfaces, while oily can sound a little more formal or descriptive. For people, oily often suggests insincere charm.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nhiều dầu
- Spanish
- aceitoso
- Chinese
- 油腻的
- Japanese
- 油っぽい
- Korean
- 기름진
Etymology
Oily comes from oil + -y, an Old English adjective ending meaning “full of” or “having.” It has been used in English since the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
oily skinoily hairoily fishoily smile
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is oily a negative word?
- It can be neutral for skin or food, but negative for fake behaviour or too much oil.
- What is the difference between oily and greasy?
- Greasy often means dirty or heavy with grease. Oily is often used for oil itself or a slick feeling.
- Can I say oily person?
- Yes, but it usually suggests a fake, smooth, or insincere person.
- Is oily common in business English?
- Yes, especially in a figurative sense like an oily sales pitch or oily smile.