形容词,指某人表现得过分殷勤、虚情假意、令人反感地讨好别人。常用来形容那种油腔滑调、谄媚奉承的态度或行为。
/ˈsmɑːr.mi/
He gave me a smarmy smile that made me uncomfortable.
他给了我一个谄媚的微笑,让我很不舒服。
The smarmy salesman kept flattering her, hoping she would buy the most expensive car on the lot, but his insincere compliments only made her more suspicious.
那个油腔滑调的推销员不停地恭维她,希望她能买下展厅里最贵的车,但他虚伪的赞美只让她更加警觉。
smarmy 最早出现于1900年代的英国英语,源自方言动词 smalm 或 smarm,意为"用油脂涂抹、抹平头发",后来引申为"用甜言蜜语讨好别人"。这个词的核心意象就是"油滑"——就像往头发上抹发油一样,给人一种滑腻、不真诚的感觉。