To smooth hair backward away from the face, usually with a gel, oil, or wet hands to create a flat, shiny look.
Push your hair back and make it lie flat and shiny with gel or oil.
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To comb or smooth hair backward from the forehead using a greasy or wet substance to hold it in place.
"He slicked his hair back with pomade before stepping onto the dance floor."
He had his hair slicked back, very Wall Street.
— Common descriptive phrase widely used in American journalism and film reviews; attributed to stylistic descriptions of the Wall Street (1987) film aesthetic
To slick (make slippery/smooth) something back — fairly transparent in context.
Push your hair back and make it lie flat and shiny with gel or oil.
Almost exclusively used about hair. The resulting hairstyle is often associated with a classic, retro, or gangster look. Commonly heard in grooming, fashion, and film contexts. Can be done with water, pomade, gel, or grease.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "slick back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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