smoking gun
1314
smoking except in outside areas and you cannot smoke
on planes, trains, or buses. The governments of both
countries demand that cigarette companies print a health
warning on cigarette packets, and in the UK the warnings
say things such as 'Smoking Kills'. Fewer people smoke
now because of the health risks, although it is common
for young people to try smoking. Many people who smoke
regularly do actually want to stop, and some use things
such as NICOTINE PATCHES to help them. There have been
LAWSUITS against tobacco companies, claiming that the
companies knew their products could cause CANCER and
other health problems. In 1998 US courts decided that
tobacco companies should pay $206 billion in fines over
25 years in order to help states pay for the medical care
of people who smoked.
,smoking 'gun n AmE an object that suggests or shows that
something bad (i.e. a crime) has happened in the place
where it is found
smok·y /'sməʊki/ adj 1 filled with or producing (too much)
smoke: a smoky room/fire 2 with the taste or appearance of
smoke: a smoky kiss | smoky grey eyes —iness n [U]
,Smoky 'Mountains, the → see GREAT SMOKEY MOUN-
TAINS
smol·der /'sməʊldər/ v [I] AmE for SMOULDER
smooch /smuːtʃ/ v [(with)] infml to kiss and hold someone or
each other lovingly, especially without concern for other
people around: They were smooching in the back row of the
cinema.
smooth¹ /smuːð/ adj 1 having an even surface without
sharply raised or lowered places, points, lumps etc; not
rough: a smooth road | as smooth as silk | The tyres were old
and had been worn smooth. | Feel this; it's as smooth as a
baby's bottom! → opposite ROUGH 2 (of a liquid mixture)
without lumps; evenly thick: Beat until smooth. → opposite
LUMPY 3 even in movement without sudden changes or
breaks: Bring the car to a smooth stop. | I hope you'll have a
smooth flight. → opposite BUMPY 4 free from problems or
difficulties: a smooth journey | Her progress from local man-
ageress to company director had not been smooth. 5 not bitter
or sour; pleasant in the mouth: This sherry is very smooth. →
opposite HARSH, ROUGH 6 usually derog (too) pleasant, polite,
or untroubled in manner; avoiding or not showing difficul-
ties; SUAVE: I never trust these smooth salesmen. → see also
take the rough with the smooth (ROUGH) —ly adv —ness
n [U]
smooth² v [T] 1 [OUT, DOWN] to make smooth or smoother:
She smoothed out the tablecloth/smoothed the wrinkles out of
the tablecloth. | He smoothed down his hair. | (fig.) This agree-
ment will smooth the way to peace. 2 [+obj+adv/prep] to rub (a
liquid, cream etc) gently over or into a surface: She smoothed
suntan lotion over her legs. 3 [AWAY] to remove (roughness)
from a surface: This face cream claims to smooth away
wrinkles. | (fig.) There are a few problems to be smoothed away
before we complete the project.
smooth sthg. ↔ over phr v [T] to make (difficulties) seem
small or unimportant: He managed to smooth over the bad
feelings between his wife and daughter.
smooth·ie, smoothy /'smuːði/ n 1 infml, derog or humor some-
one who is confident and attractive, but is often not sincere:
Kyle's a real smoothie. 2 a thick drink made of fruit and fruit
juices mixed together, sometimes with ice, milk, or YOGHURT:
a strawberry-banana smoothie
'smooth-talking adj usually derog too pleasant and able to
persuade in speech —,smooth-'talker n: He's a real smooth-
talker.
smor·gas·bord /'smɔːgæsbɔːd||'smɔːrgæsbɔːrd/ n 1 [C;U]
(a restaurant meal in which people serve themselves from) a
large number of different dishes, especially Scandinavian
dishes 2 [C(of)] a variety: From the mid-1980s, American
viewers turned increasingly away from network television to
the smorgasbord of choice offered by cable television and
VCRs.
smote /sməʊt/ past tense of SMITE
smoth·er /'smʌðər/ v [T] 1 [with, in] to cover thickly or
heavily: The back window of their car was smothered in little
stickers. | He smothered her with kisses. 2 to keep from
developing, growing, or getting out; STIFLE: I just managed to
smother a yawn. | They smothered all opposition. | (fig.) a child
smothered with too much love 3 to kill from lack of air: He
smothered his victim with a pillow. 4 to put out or keep
down (a fire) by keeping out air
smoul·der BrE || smol- AmE /'sməʊldər/ v [I] 1 to burn
slowly with little or no flame 2 [(with)] to have or show
violent feelings that are kept from being expressed: The
workforce were smouldering with discontent. | smouldering
anger/passion | smouldering eyes
SMSA /ˌes em es 'eɪ/ abbrev. for Standard Metropolitan Statis-
tical Area; a city area in the US that is chosen for the
purpose of collecting and comparing information about
populations, quality of life etc
smudge¹ /smʌdʒ/ n a dirty mark with unclear edges made
especially by rubbing; (fig.) The incident in the brothel is a
smudge on his character. —smudgy adj
smudge² v [I;T] to make or become dirty with a smudge: The
signature was smudged and I couldn't read it. | The ink has
smudged. | He smudged the paper with his dirty hands. →
compare SMEAR
smug /smʌg/ adj -gg- derog too pleased with oneself; showing
too much satisfaction with one's own qualities, position etc;
COMPLACENT: a smug smile | unbearably smug —ly adv
—ness n [U]
smug·gle /'smʌgəl/ v [T] to take (especially goods) illegally
from one country to another, especially to avoid paying the
necessary tax: to smuggle watches/cigarettes into France | She
smuggled her notes into the examination. | He managed to
smuggle a message out of prison to his friends. —gler n: The
Customs men caught the smuggler. —gling n [U] a large
drug-smuggling operation
smut /smʌt/ n 1 [C;U] (a small piece of) material like dirt or
SOOT that blackens or makes dark marks 2 [U] infml morally
offensive books, stories, talk etc 3 [U] a FUNGUS disease of
grasses and grains that turns plant parts into black dust
smut·ty /'smʌti/ adj infml slightly morally offensive because of
being concerned with TOILETS or especially sex: little boys
telling each other smutty jokes behind the bike sheds | a smutty
magazine —tily adv —tiness n [U]
snack¹ /snæk/ n an amount of food smaller than a meal that
is eaten informally between meals. A snack might be any-
thing, from a chicken leg or a HOT DOG to a bar of chocolate:
I only had time for a quick snack. | I'm having a snack
attack. (=have a strong desire for a snack)
snack² v [I] to eat a snack: Don't snack between meals. |
snacking on potato chips
'snack bar n an informal public eating place that serves
snacks
'snack food n [C;U usually pl.] a food that is intended to be
eaten as a snack, e.g. CRISPS, PEANUTS, POPCORN etc. Such
foods are usually regarded as having very little benefit to
one's health.
snaf·fle¹ /'snæfəl/ v [T] BrE infml to get, especially by deceitful
means or stealing: She snaffled some pens and paper from the
office.
snaffle² also 'snaffle bit n a BIT made of two short joined
bars, for putting in a horse's mouth
sna·fu /snæ'fuː/ n AmE infml a state of being wrong or unwork-
able
snag¹ /snæg/ n 1 a difficulty, especially a hidden or unex-
pected one: It's the perfect car for me, only snag is, I can't
afford it! 2 a rough or sharp part of something that may
catch and hold or cut things passing against it 3 a tear
made (as if) by catching on a snag
snag² v -gg- [T] 1 to catch on a SNAG: She snagged her tights
on the rough edge of the chair. 2 AmE infml to catch or get
especially by quick action: I'll try to snag the waiter next time
he walks by.
snail /sneɪl/ n 1 a small plant-eating creature with a soft
body, no limbs, and usually a hard shell on its back, which
moves very slowly 2 → see picture at SLUG