| 释义 |
▪ I. smarm, v. colloq. (orig. dial.)|smɑːm|
Also 9 sma(a)m, smalm, smawm.
[Of obscure origin.]
1. dial. To smear, bedaub.
1847Halliw., Smawm, to smear. Dorset. 1890Jessop Trials Country Parson iv. 160 Mummies smalmed over with tawdry pigments.
b. To make smooth with an oily or greasy substance; to smooth or slick down. Also fig.
1937Kipling Something of Myself viii. 211 The Provincial Press has been syndicated, standardized, and smarmed down out of individuality. 1953Chambers's Jrnl. June 356/1, I remembered in time the need to attach a canvas, oil-filled bag to the sea-anchor, so that the thin trickle of oil would smalm the crippling seas. 1953Landfall June 126 He twitted me about my orange brogues, my smarmed-down hair, my nervous attempts at wit. 1977M. Kenyon Rapist i. 5 The rapist looked in the looking-glass at the smarmed hair.
c. To treat in a wheedling, flattering way.
1902Little Folks Mar. 221/2 You can go and smarm him over if you want to.
2. a. intr. To behave in a fulsomely flattering or toadying manner, to suck up to a person. Also const. about, over.
1911O. Onions Widdershins ix. 265 It had been the usual thing..twenty years ago—smarming about Art and the Arts. 1920‘O. Douglas’ Penny Plain xx. 218 The people you try to help will smarm to your face and black⁓guard you behind your back. 1924H. de Selincourt Cricket Match v. 184 Loving her to tease him..and not sort of smalm over him like some chaps' maters did. 1928A. P. Herbert Trials of Topsy xxiii. 138, I will not spend week-ends smarming about in your ulcerated town. 1942G. R. Gilbert Free to Laugh and Dance vi. 29 The..children of his two previous marriages were indignant but they couldn't do anything about it, they all hanging round and smarming up to the old man, and his marrying again in spite of them. 1950J. Cannan Murder Included vi. 108 Murder was the last thing that a toady like that doctor would look for in the family he smarmed over. 1960F. Raphael Limits of Love iii. vi. 343 Dulles and Eden were smarming up to Nasser.
b. to smarm one's way, to make one's way by flattery or toadying.
1940G. D. H. & M. Cole Counterpoint Murder i. 15, I am going to report you to Mr. Marston. So it's no use you thinking you can smarm your way out of it. 1975Times Lit. Suppl. 20 June 692/4 He is as convincing an uncaught villain as any in crime fiction; cautious and false, smarming his way into the upper reaches of such a society as only such a man would seek to crawl into.
Hence smarmed ppl. a.; ˈsmarming vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1950J. Cannan Murder Included ii. 22 Bunny strove to use tact and courtesy: Elizabeth accused her of ‘smarming’. 1953Smarmed [see smarm v. 1 b]. 1957L. Durrell Justine ii. 143 He is a complete parvenu of course and rose on..judicious smarming of powerful people. 1970E. Berckman She asked for It ix. 108 It's wonderful how greedy people are for these smarming little compliments. 1974D. Gray Dead Give Away iii. 31 He hated her smarming ways. 1977Smarmed [see smarm v. 1 b].
▪ II. smarm, n. colloq.|smɑːm|
Also smalm.
[f. the vb.]
An unctuous bearing; fulsome flattery; flattering or toadying behaviour.
1937H. C. Bailey Clunk's Claimant xiii. 84 That smarm of holiness..was pretty near the ruddy limit. 1962M. Urquhart Frail on North Circular xiii. 72 ‘That's a nice new hair-do, Lil.’.. ‘Don't come your smarm with me.’ 1966C. Fenn Pyramid of Night iii. 60 The manager escorted her right to the door. There was no doubt that this kind of smarm was cute. 1969B. Cobb Scandal at Scotland Yard xvi. 154 He was ready to turn on the smarm with the ‘Kiss and be friends again’ talk. 1978Guardian Weekly 19 Feb. 22/1 ‘George’ did this, ‘George’ did that, all the way through. ‘George’ is the victim of bonhomie and smarm.
▪ III. smarm
see smalm v. |