slippery

Universal Words adjective 1 (also informal slippy) difficult to hold or to stand or move on, because it is smooth, wet or polished: slippery like a fish * In places the path can be wet and slippery. * His hand was slippery with sweat. 2 (informal) (of a person) that you cannot trust: Don't believe what he says-he's a slippery customer. 3 (informal) (of a situation, subject, problem, etc.) difficult to deal with and that you have to think about carefully: Freedom is a slippery concept (= because its meaning changes according to your point of view). IDIOMS the / a slippery slope a course of action that is difficult to stop once it has begun, and can lead to serious problems or disaster: She realized he was on the slippery slope towards a life of crime.