slime
B1Informal to neutral; can be technical in biology.
Definition
Meaning
A thick, slippery, soft, and often unpleasant viscous liquid substance.
1. In popular culture, a green or brightly colored goo used in toys, games, and TV shows (e.g., 'You've Been Slimed'). 2. Informally, a despicable, contemptible, or morally repugnant person. 3. In biology, a mucous secretion produced by animals like slugs or fish.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass noun (e.g., 'covered in slime'), but can be pluralized ('different slimes') when referring to types. The figurative meaning ('a slime') is countable and derogatory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Both use the word identically for the substance and figurative person. The verb 'to slime' (to cover with slime or to malign someone) is slightly more common in US informal use.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties: negative for the substance/figurative person, neutral/playful in contexts like children's toys or 'slime mold'.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] be covered in/with slime[SUBJ] secrete/produce slime[AGENT] slime [PATIENT] (verb)the slime of [SOURCE] (e.g., the slime of a snail)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “You've been slimed! (from TV)”
- “slimeball (a contemptible person)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in cleaning product marketing ('removes bathroom slime') or toy industry reports.
Academic
Used in biology texts (e.g., 'bacterial slime layer', 'fish slime coat').
Everyday
Common for describing mud, kids' toys, disgusting substances, or insulting someone.
Technical
Specific use in microbiology ('biofilm' or 'slime layer'), marine biology, and mycology ('slime mold').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The snail slimed the path with its trail.
- The politician was slimed by the tabloid press.
American English
- The fish slimed my hands when I tried to hold it.
- He's always trying to slime his way out of trouble.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No direct adverb form; 'slimily' is theoretically possible but extremely rare).
American English
- N/A (No direct adverb form; 'slimily' is theoretically possible but extremely rare).
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective is 'slimy', not 'slime').
American English
- N/A (The adjective is 'slimy', not 'slime').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children played with green slime.
- The rock was wet and covered in slime.
- After the rain, the path was slippery with mud and slime.
- I don't trust him; he's a real slime.
- The documentary showed how the hagfish produces slime as a defense mechanism.
- The journalist was accused of sliming the candidate's reputation with baseless allegations.
- The biofilm, a complex aggregation of microorganisms, is often referred to as a 'slime layer' in microbiology.
- His unctuous manner and moral flexibility earned him a reputation as a corporate slimeball.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of LIME - but it's Slippery and Slimy, so it's SLIME.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORALITY IS FILTH (e.g., 'He's a piece of slime'). NATURAL PROCESSES ARE MESSY (e.g., 'the slime of decay').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'слизь' (mucus) in all contexts; 'slime' is often thicker and more tangible. The figurative 'slime' (person) is closer to 'подонок', 'мерзавец', not just 'слизняк' (slug/coward).
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun for the substance (e.g., 'a slime' – incorrect unless referring to a type or the figurative person). Confusing 'slimy' (adj.) with 'slick' or 'greasy' in non-tactile metaphors.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slime' used in a positive or neutral technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While typically negative (disgusting substance, bad person), it is neutral in biology (fish slime) and positive/playful in contexts like children's crafting toys ('fun slime').
Yes. It means 'to cover with slime' (literal) or 'to vilify, to malign someone' (figurative, informal, chiefly US).
'Slime' suggests thick, viscous, often green/brown matter. 'Mucus' is a specific biological secretion (from noses, etc.). 'Ooze' is slower-flowing, often from the ground or a wound, and can also be a verb meaning 'to seep'.
It's a common name for various unrelated eukaryotic organisms that can live as single cells but aggregate to form multicellular reproductive structures. They are a subject of study in biology, not actual molds.