greasy

Related to greasy: greasy spoon

greasy spoon

A small restaurant or diner, especially one that serves fried foods. Every time I go on a road trip, I make it a point to stop at a greasy spoon for at least one of my meals.
See also: greasy, spoon

the greasy pole

The route to advancement in one's place of employment or education, likened to a greased pole that is slippery and difficult to climb. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I know it's been a hard month, but it's just another upward movement on the greasy pole.
See also: greasy, pole
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

greasy spoon

Fig. a cheap diner, where the silverware might not be too clean. The corner greasy spoon is always busy at lunchtime.
See also: greasy, spoon
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

greasy spoon

A cheap restaurant, especially one serving short-order fried foods. For example, College students short of cash tend to eat a lot in that greasy spoon. This expression also implies that the restaurant is not very clean. [c. 1900]
See also: greasy, spoon
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the greasy pole

BRITISH
The greasy pole is used to talk about someone's attempts to reach a more successful position in their career. In 1982 he joined the ruling party, since when he has climbed its greasy pole, becoming finance minister in 1991. Michael's plan was to impress the boss and start up the greasy pole. Note: This expression is often used disapprovingly, especially to suggest that success at work is not of great value. Note: In the past, climbing up or along a greasy pole in order to get a prize at the end of it was a popular fairground competition.
See also: greasy, pole

a greasy spoon

INFORMAL
A greasy spoon is a small, cheap, unattractive café that serves mostly fried food. We ate at a greasy spoon called the Step Inn Cafe.
See also: greasy, spoon
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the greasy pole

used to refer to the difficult route to the top of someone's profession.
The original literal greasy pole was a pole covered with an oily substance to make it more difficult to climb or walk along, used especially as a form of entertainment.
See also: greasy, pole

greasy spoon

a cheap, run-down restaurant or cafe serving fried foods.
1968 Len Deighton Only When I Larf Bob said he was hungry and wanted to pull up at every greasy spoon we passed.
See also: greasy, spoon
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

greasy spoon

n. an untidy and unappetizing diner or restaurant. Let’s eat at the greasy spoon over on Maple. The food is gross, but the people-watching is good.
See also: greasy, spoon
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

greasy spoon

A cheap restaurant, especially one serving greasy fried foods. This slangy expression, which dates from the early 1900s, also implies that the restaurant is not particularly clean. Len Deighton used it in Only When I Larf (1968), “Bob said he was hungry and wanted to pull up at every greasy spoon we passed.”
See also: greasy, spoon
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a greasy spoon
  • greasy spoon
  • Eat at Joe's
  • hash-house
  • spoon out
  • hash-slinger
  • slinger
  • hash slinger
  • (all) rolled into one
  • rolled into one
References in periodicals archive
According to a study conducted by the University of Waterloo, the greasy food being served at hockey rinks isn't really what young hockey players want.
Sinew-sewn softly tanned, thick hide; beaded using colors of red white-heart, greasy yellow, pea green, cobalt, white, and Charlotte-cut translucent green and translucent dark blue; long hide drops hang from opening and are embellished with beadwork and tin cones filled with red wool; hide coated in yellow pigment; remnants of collection number inked in interior; overall length 37 in., fourth quarter 19th century.
In cooperation with Thai Health Promotion Foundation, we created "AbsorbPlate," the world's first innovative design that makes Thai food less greasy and allow people to eat healthier in every meal.
Chefs Zakir and Mehboob who also graced the occasion, spoke about the role that stains play in their day to day lives and how the fight against greasy food stains can be quite the challenge and is common across the country.
Animals and data: Greasy wool yield records of Buchi sheep maintained at the Livestock Experiment Station Jugaitpir Bahawlpur District Punjab Pakistan between1986 and 2010 were used for this study.
John Frieda Full Repair Oil Elixir, PS9.99 Great for fine hair because it's light so it won't overload and leave hair greasy. It also seals split ends temporarily making hair look smoother and stronger.
RATING: 5/5 | Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, PS28 THIS felt very heavy going on and I thought I would wake up with a big greasy patch on the pillow.
Your scalp tends to get greasy from oil, dead skin cells and pollution.
Greasy. The word less sits on the page than penetrates it, threatening slickness or seepage, and, more to the point, an unruly mess.
"The plaintiff allegedly slipped and fell on a greasy substance on the floor of the defendants' restaurant.
Stars: Price: pounds 2.49 for 500ml Available: Aldi Cien Body Milk for dry skin I know it's a lotion for dry skin but I found it a little too rich, leaving a bit of a greasy residue behind.
"Sneasy the Greasy Babysits Abigail" is a morality manners primer in rhyme with a delightful twist.
The combination with the insult 'greasy' clearly did not help Mr Cairns' mitigation either.
On a cross-country trip he hung out with Native Americans, took San Francisco by storm, and relished greasy truck-stop food in the middle of the night.