city slicker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal
Quick answer
What does “city slicker” mean?
A person who lives in a city, especially one who is sophisticated, wealthy, or lacks practical skills related to rural life.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who lives in a city, especially one who is sophisticated, wealthy, or lacks practical skills related to rural life.
Often used to describe someone perceived as manipulative, overly smooth, or out of their element in rural or unsophisticated settings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept is understood in both varieties, but the archetype is more culturally central to American narratives of urban vs. rural identity. The term originated in American English.
Connotations
In both, it suggests a lack of practical skills for country life. In AmE, it's strongly tied to the cowboy/country vs. city cultural divide. In BrE, it might be used more generally for any urbanite in a rural setting.
Frequency
More frequent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “city slicker” in a Sentence
[Subject] is just a city slicker.The [noun] was sold to some city slicker.Don't trust that city slicker.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “city slicker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It's not a verb.
American English
- It's not a verb.
adverb
British English
- It's not an adverb.
American English
- It's not an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It's not an adjective, but used attributively: 'a city-slicker attitude'.
- He had a real city-slicker vibe about him.
American English
- It's not an adjective, but used attributively: 'city-slicker manners'.
- They fell for a city-slicker scheme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. If used, implies a corporate outsider unfamiliar with local, practical business conditions.
Academic
Virtually never used. Might appear in sociological or cultural studies texts discussing stereotypes.
Everyday
Primary context. Used in conversation, often humorously or critically.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “city slicker”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “city slicker”
- Using it as a neutral term for any city resident.
- Misspelling as 'city slick' or 'city sliker'.
- Using it in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, depending on tone and context. It's often used humorously or teasingly, but it carries a judgment of being out of touch with practical, rural life and can imply smooth-talking untrustworthiness.
Yes, the term is gender-neutral, though historically the stereotype was male. 'City slicker' applies to any person fitting the description.
The classic opposite is 'country bumpkin', 'hayseed', or 'rube'—terms for an unsophisticated rural person.
It originated in the early 20th century and retains a somewhat dated, cinematic feel (like an old Western). However, it is still understood and used, especially when discussing the urban-rural divide.
A person who lives in a city, especially one who is sophisticated, wealthy, or lacks practical skills related to rural life.
City slicker is usually informal in register.
City slicker: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪti ˈslɪkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪɾi ˈslɪkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She] is all hat and no cattle (related concept describing pretentiousness).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person in a slick, shiny suit slipping on a muddy country road.
Conceptual Metaphor
URBAN IS SMOOTH/ARTIFICIAL; RURAL IS ROUGH/NATURAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'city slicker' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?