oily
gb/ˈɔɪli/ us/ˈɔɪli/
B1
English
olajos, zsíros, mézesmázos, behízelgő
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is oily
The pan was still oily even after I washed it.
A serpenyő még mosás után is olajos volt.
He wiped his oily hands on a paper towel.
Papírtörlőbe törölte olajos kezét.
There was an oily film on the water near the dock.
Learner examples
My hair feels oily today.
Ma zsírosnak érződik a hajam.
The floor is oily and slippery.
A padló olajos és csúszós.
Common mistake:
Don’t use oily to mean only ‘shiny’; it usually implies an unpleasant greasy feel.
Meaning
covered with oil; greasy
Collocations
oily hands
|oily fingers
|oily surface
|oily stain
|oily residue
|oily rag
|oily mess
|oily film
|oily patch
|oily smell
Synonyms
greasy (Most common synonym; strongly suggests unpleasant oil.)
|
slick (Emphasizes slipperiness or shine.)
|
fatty (Often used for food; focuses on fat content.)
Antonyms
dry (No oil or grease on the surface.)
|
non-greasy (Specifically says it does not feel greasy.)
Themes
daily_life
|food
|cleaning
Definition
having a lot of oil on it, so it feels greasy
Having oil on the surface or containing enough oil to feel greasy or slippery.
B1
2
zsíros
A2
Usage pattern:
oily [skin/hair/scalp/complexion]
My forehead gets oily by the afternoon.
Délutánra bezsírosodik a homlokom.
She uses a gentle cleanser for oily skin.
Kímélő arctisztítót használ zsíros bőrre.
His hair looks oily if he skips a day of shampoo.
Learner examples
I have oily skin.
Zsíros a bőröm.
My hair becomes oily quickly.
Gyorsan bezsírosodik a hajam.
Common mistake:
Oily (skin) is different from sweaty; sweat is water-based, oil is not.
Meaning
skin or hair producing excess oil
Collocations
oily skin
|oily hair
|oily scalp
|oily forehead
|oily complexion
|oily T-zone
|oily roots
|oily acne-prone skin
|oily shine
|oily moisturizer
Synonyms
greasy (Often used informally for oily hair or skin.)
|
shiny (Focuses on appearance rather than the oily feel.)
Antonyms
dry (Lacking natural moisture and oil.)
|
matte (Not shiny; often used in skincare/makeup contexts.)
Themes
health
|beauty
|body
Definition
having too much natural oil (especially skin or hair)
Producing or having too much natural oil, especially on the skin or hair.
B1
3
Usage pattern:
oily [food/dish/sauce]
The chips were tasty but a bit oily.
A csipsz finom volt, de egy kicsit olajos.
I try to avoid oily foods late at night.
Igyekszem késő este kerülni a zsíros ételeket.
That sauce tastes oily and bland.
Learner examples
This food is too oily.
Ez az étel túl olajos.
The pizza was oily.
A pizza olajos volt.
Common mistake:
For food, oily is usually negative; ‘rich’ can be more positive in some contexts.
Meaning
containing too much oil (food)
Collocations
oily food
|oily fries
|oily pizza
|oily noodles
|oily sauce
|oily dressing
|oily takeaway
|oily aftertaste
Synonyms
greasy (More strongly negative and very common for food.)
|
fatty (Focuses on fat content rather than surface oil.)
|
heavy (Often about how the food feels to eat/digest.)
Antonyms
light (Not greasy; easier to eat.)
|
low-fat (Describes reduced fat content (not exactly the same as oiliness).)
Themes
food
|restaurants
Definition
with too much oil, especially in food
Containing a lot of oil, especially in a way that makes food feel heavy or unpleasantly greasy.
C1
4
mézesmázos
B2
behízelgő
B2
Usage pattern:
an oily [smile/voice/manner]
He greeted us with an oily smile that made me suspicious.
Mézesmázos mosollyal üdvözölt minket, amitől gyanakodni kezdtem.
Her oily compliments didn’t fool anyone in the room.
Mézesmázos bókjai senkit sem tévesztettek meg a teremben.
The caller had an oily voice and kept pushing a deal.
Learner examples
He gave an oily smile.
Mézesmázos mosolyt villantott.
Common mistake:
This meaning describes behavior, not something literally with oil.
Meaning
unpleasantly smooth and flattering
Collocations
oily smile
|oily voice
|oily manner
|oily charm
|oily compliments
|oily salesman
Synonyms
smarmy (Very common and strongly negative; implies fake friendliness.)
|
unctuous (More formal; emphasizes excessive, fake politeness.)
|
ingratiating (Focuses on trying to gain approval or favor.)
Antonyms
sincere (Genuine rather than flattering for advantage.)
|
straightforward (Direct and not overly flattering.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|work
Definition
too polite in a way that feels fake
Unpleasantly polite or flattering in a way that seems insincere or trying to gain advantage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
oily
IPA
GB/ˈɔɪli/
US/ˈɔɪli/
Syllables & stress
oily (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (oily)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: oily
- Comparative: oilier
- Superlative: oiliest
Word family
Forms
oilier
adjective
oiliest
adjective
Core family
oil
noun A2
Related words
oiliness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
non-oily
adjective
Expressions
like an oily rag
1/lˈaɪk ən ˈɔɪli ɹˈæɡ/
idiom
informal
very dirty and greasy
very dirty and messy-looking
Examples
- After the long trip, we all looked like an oily rag.
- You can’t go to the interview looking like an oily rag.
oily rag
1/ˈɔɪli ɹˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
cloth soaked with oil
a cloth with oil on it, used for cleaning or polishing
Examples
- He wiped the tools with an oily rag to stop them rusting.
- Put oily rags in a sealed metal container to reduce fire risk.
Learner examples
- He cleaned the bike chain with an oily rag.