/'slɪpərɪ; `slɪpərɪ/
adj (-ier, -iest)
1 (of a surface) difficult to hold, stand on or move on without slipping because it is smooth, wet, polished, etc （指物体表面）光滑的, 滑的
*a slippery road, floor, etc 滑的路面、地板等
* Ice made the path slippery underfoot. 路上结了冰, 走起来很滑.
2 (infml 口) (of a person) not to be trusted; unreliable （指人）狡猾的, 不可靠的
*a slippery salesman 油嘴滑舌的推销员
* She's as slippery as an eel. 她像狐狸一样狡猾.
3 (infml 口) (of a situation, topic, problem, etc) difficult to deal with （指形势、话题、问题等）难处理的, 棘手的
*the rather slippery subject of race relations 相当棘手的种族关系问题
* be on slippery ground, ie be dealing with a subject that needs tact, care, etc 处于难以处理的局面.
4 (idm 习语) the slippery `slope (infml 口) course of action that can easily lead to disaster, failure, etc 易导致失败、灾难等的情况
*A one-party state can be the start of the slippery slope towards fascism. 一党专政有可能是滑向法西斯主义的起点.

adj
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: slipper 'slippery' (11-19 centuries), from Old English slipor]
something that is slippery is difficult to hold, walk on etc because it is wet or greasy
　In places, the path can be wet and slippery.
　Harry's palms were slippery with sweat.
informal someone who is slippery cannot be trusted
　Martin is a slippery customer (=someone you should not trust) so be careful what you say to him.
not having one clear meaning and able to be understood in different ways
　the slippery notion of 'standards'
(be on) a/the slippery slope
BrE informal used to talk about a process or habit that is difficult to stop and which will develop into something extremely bad
(be on) a/the slippery slope to/towards
　He is on the slippery slope to a life in crime.
>slipperinessn[U]