German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German slipferec, from Old High German sleffarag (influenced by Old High German slipfīg), from Old High German sleffar (slippery), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (slippery). Figurative sense from 17th c.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈʃlʏpf.ʁɪç/ (standard)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈʃlʏpf.ʁɪk/ (common form in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: schlüpf‧rig

Adjective

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schlüpfrig (strong nominative masculine singular schlüpfriger, comparative schlüpfriger, superlative am schlüpfrigsten)

  1. slippery, slick, greasy, slimy
    Synonyms: glatt, (ice) aalglatt, glitschig, rutschig
    schlüpfriger Belagslippery coating
    eine schlüpfrige Barriere am Ufer
    a slimy barrier on the shore
  2. (figuratively) slippery, tricky, unstable, changeable
    schlüpfriges Pflastertricky ground
    sie bewegt sich hinsichtlich ihrer Primärquellen auf schlüpfrigem Terrain
    she is on slippery ground when it comes to her primary sources
  3. (figuratively) risqué, salacious, scabrous
    Synonyms: anzüglich, anstößig, gewagt, unanständig, zweideutig
    schlüpfrige Unterhaltungrisqué entertainment
    schlüpfriger Filmsalacious movie

Declension

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Further reading

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