1307
slick·er /'slɪkər/ *n* **1** *infml, usually humor* a well-dressed, self-confident, but probably untrustworthy person ➔ see also CITY SLICKER **2** *AmE* a coat made to keep out the rain
slide¹ /slaɪd/ *v* **slid** /slɪd/ **1** [I;T] to (cause to) go smoothly over a surface, remaining continually in CONTACT with it: *She slid along the ice.* | *He slid his glass across the table top.* | *Slide the drawer out carefully.* ➔ compare GLIDE **2** [I;T+adv/prep] to pass or move quietly and unnoticed; slip: *She slid out of the room when no one was looking.* | *He slid over/around the question without answering it.* | *She slid the gun out of sight/into her pocket.* **3** [I] to go down to a lower level: *Will the government take action to support the sliding pound?* ➔ see also BACKSLIDE **4** **let something slide** *infml* to let a situation or condition continue, especially getting worse, without taking action or trying to stop it, usually because of laziness
slide² *n* **1** a slipping movement over a surface: *The car went into a slide on the ice.* **2** a downward movement, especially of prices, amounts etc; fall: *How can we halt the slide in living standards?* **3** an apparatus for sliding down: *a children's playground slide* **4** a small piece of film in a frame for passing strong light through to show a picture on a surface: *They showed us some colour slides of their holiday.* | *a slide show/projector* **5** a small piece of thin glass to put an object on for looking at under a microscope: *He mounted the specimen on a slide.* **6** [usually in comb.] a sudden fall of material down a hill: *a snowslide/rockslide/mudslide* ➔ see also LANDSLIDE **7** a HAIR SLIDE **8** a sliding machine part, such as the U-shaped tube on a TROMBONE ➔ see picture at BRASS
'slide projector *n* a piece of equipment that shines a light through SLIDES so that pictures appear on a screen or wall
'slide rule *n* an instrument for calculating numbers, usually made of a ruler marked with LOGARITHMS with a middle part that slides along its length
,sliding 'door *n* a door that slides across an opening rather than swinging from one side of it
,sliding 'scale *n* a system of pay, taxes etc, calculated by rates which may vary according to changing conditions
slight¹ /slaɪt/ *adj* **1** small in degree; not considerable, noticeable, or serious: *a slight pain* | *a slight improvement* | *There's been a slight change in the plans.* | *I haven't the slightest idea (=I have no idea) what you're talking about.* **2** especially *lit* not strong-looking; thin and delicate: *Her slight frame was shaken by bouts of coughing.* **3** **in the slightest** (usually in negatives) at all: 'Do you mind if I open the window?' 'Not in the slightest; please do.' ➔-**ness** *n* [U]
slight² *v* [T] to treat (a person or group) rudely, without respect, or as if unimportant ➔-**ingly** *adv*
slight³ *n* [(on, to)] a slighting act; INSULT: *I'm afraid he took your remark as a slight on/to his work.*
slight·ly /'slaɪtli/ *adv* **1** to a slight degree; a bit; rather: *This one's slightly better than that, but not much.* | *I feel slightly ill.* **2** in a slight way: *a small slightly-built man*
Sli·go /'slaɪgəʊ/ a COUNTY in the west of the Republic of Ireland
sli·ly /'slaɪli/ *adv* ➔ see SLY
slim¹ /slɪm/ *adj* **-mm-** *apprec* **1** (especially of a person) attractively thin; not fat **2** (of hope, probability etc) very small; slight: *Our chances of winning are slim.* ➔-**ly** *adv* ➔-**ness** *n* [U]
slim² *v* **-mm-** **1** [I] *BrE* to (try to) make oneself thinner by eating less, taking a lot of exercise etc: *I don't want any cake; I'm slimming/trying to slim/on a slimming diet.* ➔ see also DIET **2** [T(DOWN)] to reduce in size or number: *attempts to slim (down) the company's workforce* ➔-**mer** *n* ➔-**ming** *n* [U]
slime /slaɪm/ *n* [U] an unpleasant partly-liquid substance, such as the thick sticky liquid produced by the skin of various fish and SNAILS: *The snails left a trail of slime.* | *a pond covered in green slime*
Slim Fast *trademark* a type of thick drink, usually sold as a powder that you mix with water, which people drink instead of eating large meals so that they can lose weight
slim·y /'slaɪmi/ *adj* **1** like, covered with, or being slime; unpleasantly slippery, especially to touch: *a slimy mess of squashed fruit* **2** *derog* trying to please in order to gain advantage for oneself; insincerely HUMBLE: *a slimy manner* ➔-**iness** *n* [U]
sling¹ /slɪŋ/ *v* **slung** /slʌŋ/ [T] **1** [+obj+adv/prep] to cause to hang or be loosely supported: *She slung her coat over her shoulder.* | *A line of flags was slung between the trees.* **2** *infml* to throw, especially roughly or with effort: [+obj+adv/prep] *He slung it into the wastepaper basket.* | (fig.) *If you don't attend all the lectures you'll get slung off/slung out of the course.* | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *Sling me the keys.* **3** **sling mud at** to say unfair and damaging things about (especially a political opponent) **4** **sling one's hook** *BrE slang* to go away
sling² *n* **1** a piece of cloth for hanging from the neck to support a damaged arm or hand: *She had her arm in a sling.* **2** an apparatus of ropes, bands etc, for holding heavy objects to be lifted or carried **3** a length of cord with a piece of leather in the middle, held at the ends and swung round, used in former times for throwing stones with force **4** a cloth band on a weapon for carrying it upright behind the shoulder or across the back **5** **the slings and arrows (of outrageous fortune)** *quote* all the difficulties and opposition people have to face in their lives (a phrase from Shakespeare's play *Hamlet*)
sling·shot /'slɪŋɒt||-ʃɑːt/ *n AmE* for CATAPULT
slink /slɪŋk/ *v* **slunk** /slʌŋk/ [I+adv/prep] to move quietly and secretly (especially away from something), as if in fear or shame: *The defeated army slunk back to its strongholds in the mountains.*
slink·y /'slɪŋki/ *adj infml apprec* (especially of a garment) smooth and rather tight, so as to show off the lines of the body: *her slinky black dress* ➔-**ily** *adv* ➔-**iness** *n* [U]
Slinky *trademark* a childrens' toy that is like a large spring
slip¹ /slɪp/ *v* **-pp-** **1** [I] to slide a short distance out of place quickly and unexpectedly, or fall by sliding: *My foot slipped and I nearly fell.* | *It was icy, and people were slipping and sliding all along the street.* | *The soap slipped out of my hand.* ➔ see also SLIPPERY **2** [I+adv/prep] to move smoothly, secretly, or unnoticed: *She slipped into/out of the room when no one was looking.* | *I'm just going to slip down to the shops.* | *As the years slipped by/past, I thought less about her.* | (fig.) *I'm sorry I told them your secret – it just slipped out.* | (fig.) *The terrorists managed to slip through the airport's security net.* | (fig.) *You're not going to let a wonderful chance like that slip through your fingers are you?* **3** [T] to put or give smoothly, secretly, or unnoticed: [+obj+adv/prep] *I slipped a note into her hand under the table.* | *He slipped his arm round her.* | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *He slipped the waiter £5 to get them a good table.* **4** [I+into/out of;T+obj+ON/OFF] to put on or take off (a garment) quickly: *He slipped out of his jacket.* | *She slipped her swimsuit on.* ➔ see also SLIP-ON **5** [T] to get free from (a fastening): *The dog slipped his collar and ran away.* | *The boat slipped its moorings.* **6** [T] to escape from (one's attention, memory etc); be forgotten or unnoticed by: *I'm sorry I forgot his birthday; the date completely slipped my mind.* **7** [(UP)] to make a slight mistake: *The office slipped up and the letter was never sent.* ➔ see also SLIP-UP **8** [I] to fall from a standard; get worse or lower: *I'm afraid the National Theatre Company is slipping; this year's productions have been very poor.* | *Profits have slipped slightly this year.* **9** **let slip** **a)** to fail to follow (a chance, offer etc) **b)** to say without intending; make known accidentally: *She let slip that she was intending to leave the company.* **10** **slip a disc** to get a SLIPPED DISC **11** **slip something over on** *infml, especially AmE* to trick (someone) cleverly
slip² *n* **1** an act of slipping or sliding **2** a usually slight mistake: *If you make a slip, rub it out neatly.* | '*Jim*' was a slip of the tongue; I meant to say 'John'. ➔ see also FREUDIAN SLIP **3** a woman's undergarment which hangs from the shoulders or waist: *Your slip's showing.* **4** (in cricket) a fielding (FIELD) position close to the BATSMAN and just behind him on the off (OFF) side: *Gower was caught at slip.* **5** **give someone the slip** *infml* to escape from someone, especially someone who is chasing you **6** **there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip** a plan or intention may easily go wrong before it is fully carried out or when it seemed to be about to succeed
slip³ *n* **1** [(of)] a usually small or narrow piece of paper: *She marked her place in the book with a slip of paper.* | *Write your*