schlüpfrig
slippery
Definition & meaning
Schlüpfrig has two main meanings:
-
Slippery: difficult to walk on or hold because a surface is smooth, wet, or slick.
Example: a slippery path. -
Suggestive or indecent: referring to sexual subjects in a way that is often considered improper, cheeky, or mildly vulgar. It commonly describes jokes, remarks, or stories.
Grammar & Word origin
Schlüpfrig is an adjective. Its comparative forms are schlüpfriger and am schlüpfrigsten.
It is formed from the verb schlüpfen , meaning “to slip” or “to slide,” plus the adjective-forming ending -ig. The original sense relates to something one can easily slip on; the suggestive sense is figurative.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms depend on the meaning:
- For “slippery”: glatt is a broad term for a smooth or slick surface; rutschig emphasizes that something is easy to slip on.
- For “suggestive or indecent”: anzüglich describes sexually suggestive remarks or behavior and is often close in meaning; zweideutig emphasizes that something can be understood in both an innocent and a suggestive way.
Possible antonyms also depend on the sense:
- For “slippery”: griffig describes a surface that is easy to grip, while rau means rough.
- For “suggestive or indecent”: anständig means decent or respectable; harmlos means harmless or inoffensive.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Die Treppe ist bei Regen sehr schlüpfrig.adjective
The stairs are very slippery when it rains.
Heute scheint der Boden seltsam schlüpfrig.adjective
Today the ground seems strangely slippery.
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