eel

(as) slippery as an eel

Devious, scheming, and untrustworthy—and difficult or impossible to apprehend or pin down. The notorious criminal has proven to be as slippery as an eel for police, eluding capture once again. Companies like this are slippery as eels, coming up with all sorts of elaborate means of getting around regulations.

See also: eel, slippery

be as slippery as an eel

To be devious, scheming, and untrustworthy—and difficult to apprehend. Of course that guy took everyone's money and left town—he's as slippery as an eel!

See also: eel, slippery

every eel hopes to become a whale

A phrase highlighting one's ambition. Just like every eel hopes to become a whale, I dream of becoming the CEO one day.

See also: become, eel, every, hope, whale

hold an eel by the tail

To try to engage or somehow detain an elusive person or thing. Trying to get in touch with my insurance company is like trying to holding an eel by the tail—I can never get through to a live person! Every time we try to pin charges on the mob boss, it's as hard as holding an eel by the tail because he somehow weasels his way out of them!

skin an eel by the tail

To do something in an ill-advised way. Why are you skinning an eel by the tail? You know you can't back out of the driveway until you clear all that snow out of the way!

*slippery as an eel

devious and untrustworthy, but impossible to catch. (*Also: as ~.) Don't sign a lease with that landlord; I think he's as slippery as an eel. The con artist was slippery as an eel. Although he defrauded many people, he never went to prison.

See also: eel, slippery

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

slippery as an eel

Elusive, devious, as in When it comes to talking about his investments, Jim's slippery as an eel. This simile, first recorded about 1412, alludes to the eel's skin, which has tiny scales and is quite slippery when wet.

See also: eel, slippery

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

slippery as an eel

1. If someone is as slippery as an eel, they are difficult to catch or take hold of. When his opponent is on the attack, he is as slippery as an eel.

2. If someone is as slippery as an eel, they are clever and able to think quickly, but you cannot trust them. He was as clever as a fox and as slippery as an eel. Note: You can also describe someone as a slippery eel. He himself admits that he is regarded as a slippery eel — a man who constantly changes his mind.

See also: eel, slippery

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

(as) slippery as an ˈeel

(informal) dishonest and good at not answering questions, etc: The man the police want to talk to is slippery as an eel, and has so far escaped arrest. OPPOSITE: (as) straight as a die (2)

See also: eel, slippery

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

slippery as an eel

Hard to grasp; elusive, and, by extension, deceitful. The eel’s long slender body, with only minute scales deeply embedded in the skin, looks totally smooth and is very slippery when wet. These characteristics gave rise to the simile, which dates from the fourteenth century and is still used today. (See the quotation in slip through one's fingers.)

See also: eel, slippery

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

See also:

(as) slippery as an eel
slippery
slippery as an eel
be as slippery as an eel
slippery customer
scheme for
scheme for (something)
set a thief to catch a thief
pull a fast one, to
get shot of

References in periodicals archive

Seaview Lads SAC fished Sully, with top spot going to Ada Harris with a bag of conger eels for 15lb 12oz.

Tucker's luck is in for win

"The eels breed and die here and the young swim back to the waters inhabited by their ancestors.

SEARCH FOR THE MYTHICAL PEISTE; Zoologist on hopes to find huge eel with a horse's head; Film-makers to focus on Irish loughs after 'sighting' in 1954; EXCLUSIVE

Once considered a bane in farming, swamp eels are now making rice farmers earn a little extra income.

Swamp eels: From bane to boon for farmers

Eels are protected by law and are capable of surviving for periods of time out of water and, according to legend, are capable of crossing land and damp meadows in their search for water systems.

INCREDIBEEL! 5LB 10OZ FISH MAY HAVE SWUM 4,000 MILES TO BLACK COUNTRY CANAL

The story was about fishermen harvesting juvenile eels in coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine and selling them for more than $2,500 a pound, mostly for unagi in Asian fish markets.

A slithery ocean mystery: scientists gain grasp on eels' epic migration

Different life stages of the eel have specific names: the transparent youngsters coming from the Atlantic Ocean towards the European coasts are called glass eel; in the growing phase, they are known as yellow eel (though they are brownish/greenish); and when finally starting maturation and returning to the ocean, they are called silver eel (silvery belly, nearly black dorsal).

Faire mieux que la nature? The history of eel restocking in Europe

This is the preferred method for hooking up an eel, a.k.a.

Eel-icious: all about a first-rate cobia bait

Eels are using electricity like a venom, Catania says.

Eels' electricity peaks when they wrap

Spokeswoman Louise McWatt said: "There are eels living in waters in the area around Surf Snowdonia so we know they are in the vicinity.

gill seekers; Eels found in Surf Snowdonia lagoon

Two Chinese nationals travelling from Madrid to Sofia have tried to smuggle the eels packed up into eight styrofoam containers and declared as food items, The National Customs Agency said in a statement on Thursday.

Bulgarian Customs Prevent Smuggling of Two Million European Eels

A growing concern among the Japanese is that the eel, which is an integral part of the country's diet, has been listed as endangered.

Japan sees a vanishing dish

There are hundreds of original Filipino street food and they chose to show an esoteric eel dish and a goddamn chinese fried vegetable lumpia!

'Borders on poverty porn': Erik Matti slams Netflix series 'Street Food'

Part of the eel's problem stems from poaching of the little eels that ascend New England rivers, especially in Maine.

We must stop our eels from permanently slipping away

American eel are facultative catadromous species that have a life cycle that encompasses thousands of kilometers to complete (USFWS, 2011a).

American eel population characteristics in the Upper Mississippi River

Madrid, Jumada I 24, 1439, Feb 10, 2018, SPA -- Spanish police say they have confiscated 310 kilos (683 pounds) of young eels that were about to be smuggled out of the country and shipped to Asia.

Police Seize 310 Kilos of Contraband Eels at Madrid Airport

词组	eel
释义	eel (as) slippery as an eel Devious, scheming, and untrustworthy—and difficult or impossible to apprehend or pin down. The notorious criminal has proven to be as slippery as an eel for police, eluding capture once again. Companies like this are slippery as eels, coming up with all sorts of elaborate means of getting around regulations. See also: eel, slippery be as slippery as an eel To be devious, scheming, and untrustworthy—and difficult to apprehend. Of course that guy took everyone's money and left town—he's as slippery as an eel! See also: eel, slippery every eel hopes to become a whale A phrase highlighting one's ambition. Just like every eel hopes to become a whale, I dream of becoming the CEO one day. See also: become, eel, every, hope, whale hold an eel by the tail To try to engage or somehow detain an elusive person or thing. Trying to get in touch with my insurance company is like trying to holding an eel by the tail—I can never get through to a live person! Every time we try to pin charges on the mob boss, it's as hard as holding an eel by the tail because he somehow weasels his way out of them! See also: by, eel, hold, tail skin an eel by the tail To do something in an ill-advised way. Why are you skinning an eel by the tail? You know you can't back out of the driveway until you clear all that snow out of the way! See also: by, eel, skin, tail Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. slippery as an eel devious and untrustworthy, but impossible to catch. (Also: as ~.) Don't sign a lease with that landlord; I think he's as slippery as an eel. The con artist was slippery as an eel. Although he defrauded many people, he never went to prison. See also: eel, slippery McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. slippery as an eel Elusive, devious, as in When it comes to talking about his investments, Jim's slippery as an eel. This simile, first recorded about 1412, alludes to the eel's skin, which has tiny scales and is quite slippery when wet. See also: eel, slippery The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. slippery as an eel 1. If someone is as slippery as an eel, they are difficult to catch or take hold of. When his opponent is on the attack, he is as slippery as an eel. 2. If someone is as slippery as an eel, they are clever and able to think quickly, but you cannot trust them. He was as clever as a fox and as slippery as an eel. Note: You can also describe someone as a slippery eel. He himself admits that he is regarded as a slippery eel — a man who constantly changes his mind. See also: eel, slippery Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. (as) slippery as an ˈeel (informal) dishonest and good at not answering questions, etc: The man the police want to talk to is slippery as an eel, and has so far escaped arrest. OPPOSITE: (as) straight as a die (2) See also: eel, slippery Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary slippery as an eel Hard to grasp; elusive, and, by extension, deceitful. The eel’s long slender body, with only minute scales deeply embedded in the skin, looks totally smooth and is very slippery when wet. These characteristics gave rise to the simile, which dates from the fourteenth century and is still used today. (See the quotation in slip through one's fingers.) See also: eel, slippery The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: (as) slippery as an eel slippery slippery as an eel be as slippery as an eel slippery customer scheme for scheme for (something) set a thief to catch a thief pull a fast one, to get shot of References in periodicals archive Seaview Lads SAC fished Sully, with top spot going to Ada Harris with a bag of conger eels for 15lb 12oz. Tucker's luck is in for win "The eels breed and die here and the young swim back to the waters inhabited by their ancestors. SEARCH FOR THE MYTHICAL PEISTE; Zoologist on hopes to find huge eel with a horse's head; Film-makers to focus on Irish loughs after 'sighting' in 1954; EXCLUSIVE Once considered a bane in farming, swamp eels are now making rice farmers earn a little extra income. Swamp eels: From bane to boon for farmers Eels are protected by law and are capable of surviving for periods of time out of water and, according to legend, are capable of crossing land and damp meadows in their search for water systems. INCREDIBEEL! 5LB 10OZ FISH MAY HAVE SWUM 4,000 MILES TO BLACK COUNTRY CANAL The story was about fishermen harvesting juvenile eels in coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine and selling them for more than $2,500 a pound, mostly for unagi in Asian fish markets. A slithery ocean mystery: scientists gain grasp on eels' epic migration Different life stages of the eel have specific names: the transparent youngsters coming from the Atlantic Ocean towards the European coasts are called glass eel; in the growing phase, they are known as yellow eel (though they are brownish/greenish); and when finally starting maturation and returning to the ocean, they are called silver eel (silvery belly, nearly black dorsal). Faire mieux que la nature? The history of eel restocking in Europe This is the preferred method for hooking up an eel, a.k.a. Eel-icious: all about a first-rate cobia bait Eels are using electricity like a venom, Catania says. Eels' electricity peaks when they wrap Spokeswoman Louise McWatt said: "There are eels living in waters in the area around Surf Snowdonia so we know they are in the vicinity. gill seekers; Eels found in Surf Snowdonia lagoon Two Chinese nationals travelling from Madrid to Sofia have tried to smuggle the eels packed up into eight styrofoam containers and declared as food items, The National Customs Agency said in a statement on Thursday. Bulgarian Customs Prevent Smuggling of Two Million European Eels A growing concern among the Japanese is that the eel, which is an integral part of the country's diet, has been listed as endangered. Japan sees a vanishing dish There are hundreds of original Filipino street food and they chose to show an esoteric eel dish and a goddamn chinese fried vegetable lumpia! 'Borders on poverty porn': Erik Matti slams Netflix series 'Street Food' Part of the eel's problem stems from poaching of the little eels that ascend New England rivers, especially in Maine. We must stop our eels from permanently slipping away American eel are facultative catadromous species that have a life cycle that encompasses thousands of kilometers to complete (USFWS, 2011a). American eel population characteristics in the Upper Mississippi River Madrid, Jumada I 24, 1439, Feb 10, 2018, SPA -- Spanish police say they have confiscated 310 kilos (683 pounds) of young eels that were about to be smuggled out of the country and shipped to Asia. Police Seize 310 Kilos of Contraband Eels at Madrid Airport
随便看	fond of (someone or something) food foodaholic food baby food chain food coma food desert food for thought food for worms foodie food porn fooey foo-foo water fool fool about fool and his money are soon parted fool and his money are soon parted, a fool around fool around with (someone or something) fool away fool into foolish foolishness Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.