Slick
Meaning: Smooth, clever, or sneaky. Can also be used as an adverb meaning 'kind of' or 'lowkey.'
In AAVE, slick has multiple uses. As an adjective, it describes someone who's smooth or cleverly deceptive. As an adverb ('I slick want to go'), it means 'kind of' or 'actually.' A 'slick' move can be admirable cleverness or suspicious manipulation, depending on context.
Examples
- That was slick how you got out of doing the dishes. 你逃避洗碗的方式还挺高明的。Qué hábil has sido para escaquearte de fregar los platos.皿洗いをうまく逃れたの、なかなかやるね。설거지를 교묘하게 빠져나온 거, 꽤 잘했네.
- I slick want to skip class today but I know I shouldn't. 我今天其实有点想翘课,但我知道不应该。En el fondo me apetece saltarme la clase hoy, pero sé que no debería.今日ちょっとサボりたいけど、ダメだよなぁ。오늘 은근히 수업 빠지고 싶긴 한데 안 되는 거 알아.
- He thinks he's slick, but everyone knows he's lying. 他自以为很精明,但大家都知道他在撒谎。Se cree muy listo, pero todo el mundo sabe que está mintiendo.自分では上手くやってるつもりだけど、嘘ついてるのはみんなバレてるよ。자기는 들키지 않았다고 생각하는데, 거짓말하는 거 다 들통났어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: casual conversation, texting
Tone: knowing, sly
✓ Do Say
- That was slick.那招挺高明的。Eso ha sido muy hábil.それ、うまいね。(That was slick.)그거 꽤 교묘했네.
- He's trying to be slick.他在耍小聪明。Se está intentando pasar de listo.彼、うまくごまかそうとしてる。(He's trying to be slick.)그가 꼼수를 부리려고 해.
✗ Don't Say
- The adverbial use ('I slick forgot') is primarily AAVE — using it may sound unnatural if it's not your dialect副词用法('I slick forgot')主要出现在非裔美国人方言中——如果不是你的方言,使用起来可能会不自然El uso adverbial ('I slick forgot') es principalmente del AAVE: usarlo puede sonar forzado si no es tu dialecto副詞的な使い方(「I slick forgot」)は主にAAVEの表現——自分の方言でなければ不自然に聞こえる可能性がある부사적 용법('I slick forgot')은 주로 AAVE에서 쓰이므로, 본인의 사투리가 아니면 부자연스럽게 들릴 수 있다
Origin & History
Used in AAVE since at least the 1920s, with roots in describing someone as 'smooth' or 'polished.' The adverbial use ('I slick forgot') is a more recent AAVE innovation that hasn't fully crossed into mainstream speech.
Cultural Context
Era: 1920s-present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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