slippery

(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

on a slippery slope

In a situation in which some behavior or action will eventually lead to a worse form of the same behavior or action. We've been on a slippery slope of borrowing more money to pay off the debts we already owe. Activists fear that this latest legislation will put us on a slippery slope to stifling free speech.
See also: on, slippery, slope

slippery customer

1. A devious, scheming, and untrustworthy person, group, organization, etc. You're working for Brett Thompson? Watch out—that guy's a slippery customer. Companies like this are slippery customers, coming up with all sorts of elaborate means of getting around regulations.
2. Someone who is difficult or impossible to apprehend or pin down due to their cunning. The notorious criminal has proven to be a slippery customer for police, eluding capture once again.
3. Someone or something that is difficult or tricky to determine or define with certainty. Modern art is often a slippery customer because it defies the boundaries of what a lot of people consider "real" art. What some may consider utterly brilliant others will stare at and wonder why a seven-year-old couldn't have done better.
See also: customer, slippery

slippery slope

A situation in which some behavior or action will eventually lead to a worse form of the same behavior or action, or a disastrous outcome. Eating that piece of cake is a slippery slope that could lead to you completely abandoning your diet. Verbal abuse is often a slippery slope that leads to physical abuse.
See also: slippery, slope
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

slippery customer

 
1. Fig. a clever and deceitful customer. Watch out for that guy with the big padded coat. He may snatch something. He's a real slippery customer.
2. Fig. a slippery creature. This little fish is a slippery customer. Get me something to scoop it back into its bowl.
See also: customer, slippery

slippery slope

a dangerous pathway or route to follow; a route that leads to trouble. The matter of euthanasia is a slippery slope with both legal and moral considerations.
See also: slippery, slope
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

slippery slope

A dangerous course, one that leads easily to catastrophe, as in He's on a slippery slope, compromising his values to please both the bosses and the union . This metaphoric expression alludes to traversing a slick hillside, in constant danger of falling. [Mid-1900s]
See also: slippery, slope
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

a slippery slope

COMMON A slippery slope is a course of action which is likely to lead to failure or serious trouble. It's a slippery slope. You give in to one demand and soon find that you're doing exactly what they want. The company started down the slippery slope of believing that they knew better than the customer, with the inevitable disastrous results. Note: You can also say that someone is on a slippery slope or on the slippery slope. These young people may already be on the slippery slope to criminality.
See also: slippery, slope
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

slippery slope

an idea or course of action which will lead inevitably to something unacceptable, wrong, or disastrous.
1998 Spectator Those of us who feared that devolution would not assuage nationalist sentiment but turn out to be the slippery slope to separatism have a good chance of being proved right.
See also: slippery, slope
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(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

the slippery ˈslope

a situation or way of behaving that could quickly lead to danger, disaster, failure, etc: Starting with shoplifting, he was soon on the slippery slope towards a life of crime.
See also: slippery, slope
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

slippery slope, a

A dangerous path or situation leading to disaster. Alluding to a path down which one could slide to a bad fall, this figure of speech dates from the mid-1900s. The Daily Telegraph of January 6, 1964 stated, “While Western feet thus approach what some fear may be a slippery slope towards recognition of the East, Ulbricht’s ground seems as firm as ever it was.” In a New Yorker piece about writers chronicling Sherlock Holmes, one of them is quoted as saying, “I’ve now done . . . more than fifteen hundred pages and I’ve only gotten up to 1950. It’s been a slippery slope into madness and obsession” (Dec. 13, 2004).
See also: slippery
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • (as) slippery as an eel
  • eel
  • 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
There is something else that must be making ice slippery. This brings us to the more accurate theory -- there is a very thin layer of water on ice.
What Makes Ice Slippery?
NWS issued a weather advisory for the entire I-80 and Highway 50 corridors through Tahoe Basin and added slippery conditions of roads might persist till Monday as they are untreated.
Thunderstorm, Fog Warnings Issued Along Interstate 80
For more information, please contact 1-866-766-0767, admin@places4students.com or visit Slippery Rock Student Government Association's Off-Campus Housing webpage at https://www.srsga.org/off-campus-housing.
Places4Students.com Partners with Slippery Rock Student Government Association to Provide Off-Campus Housing Solutions
If the slippery surface is external such as a car park or walkway, an anti-slip traffic paint will provide a tough anti-slip surface perfect for covering asphalt or concrete.
Spring maintenance made easy
The "logical slippery slope" occurs when the legalization of euthanasia for a very limited group of people in very limited circumstances is expanded to include more people in more situations.
Euthanasia: it's a long, long, long way down: one way to get rid of slippery slopes is to deny that they exist
Ballydoyle Honey was quickest of the trio when covering the 550 yards course in 29.34sec, but is third-in at 4-1 behind 3-1 market leader Jaytee Jet and 7-2 Slippery Fred.
Jet flying high in Easter betting
LiquiGlide's coatings are created by combining a textured solid with a liquid, resulting in a permanently wet slippery surface that enables viscous liquids to slide easily.
Pact Group and LiquiGlide collaborate on nonstick paint packaging solutions
One way to overcome the pooling problem is to make dark matter less slippery. In alternative models, so-called "hidden-sector" dark matter particles make contact, explains Jonathan Feng (University of California, Irvine).
How slippery is dark matter?
INGA replies: As wooden floors can be slippery for dogs I would recommend buying lots of non-slip rugs.
ASK the VET; Pets and their People
1) A safety hazard, such as a slippery floor, must be kept out of service until it is dry.
Slippery when wet: prevent accidents during maintenance
Even though he twice fought the Even though he twice fought the slippery genius that was Sugar Ray slippery genius that was Sugar Ray Leonard.
Hitman and Hitman and entertainer, entertainer, big-punching big-punching Hearns helped Hearns helped define an era define an era; Eight-time world champion recalls his days in the ring
Three major danger zones -- categorised as highly slippery, rock- fall areas and risky ridge -- have been identified by the team which was commissioned by the Uttarakhand government.
Danger zones threatening Nanda Devi pilgrimage identified
But it was Norton who forged ahead as the home side held it together better against adverse weather conditions and a slippery surface and Guisborough's heads started dropping.
Battling Town fail to weather the storm
STAFF at a supermarket in Warwickshire refused to fillet a fish because it was "too slippery", according to a report.
Fishy tale of health and safety gone mad; InBrief
He received his bachelor's degree at Slippery Rock State College, Slippery Rock, Pa., and his master's degree at The University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
Capt. John Landry