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slick down

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

Make your hair lie flat against your head using something wet or sticky.

Literal meaning: To slick (smooth/oil) something in a downward direction — fairly transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To smooth hair flat against the head in a downward direction using water, oil, or gel.

"His mother slicked his hair down with water before the school photo."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Similar to 'slick back' but with a downward direction. Often associated with old-fashioned or overly neat hairstyles. Can also describe smoothing down other materials (fur, fabric). Less common than 'slick back'.

Commonly used with

hair fur fringe cowlick water gel

Forms

Base
slick down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slicks down
he/she/it
Past simple
slicked down
yesterday
Past participle
slicked down
have + pp
-ing form
slicking down
continuous

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