Re: "I've got a slick"

Posted by ESC on November 15, 2003

In Reply to: Re: "I've got a slick" posted by Michael on November 15, 2003

: : : The French guy needs more help !
: : : I'm unable to find exactly what slick means. It's about a car in this phrase.
: : : Thanks

: : I'm not sure. Tires get slick or bald when the tread wears off. Or could it be an oil slick under the car?

: Well, let me give you a little more of the text:

: "You want to drive or you want me to? I've got a slick. What have you got?"
: - "I still have a plain jane"

: "Plain jane" I found it, it's something ordinary, not fancy or glamorous. Farther in the text, the "plain jane" is described as "a beat-up maroon LTD, at least five years old, and about as impressive-looking as a Pinto".
: So slick might be a word to describe the overall state of car, perhaps as you would say "I got a lemon"?

: Hope this will help. Thanks again.

I can't help. This is slang that hasn't caught up with me yet. A "lemon" is a bad car. Slick usually means something good. The only "slick" relating to automobiles that I can find is a type of tire.

Slick = attractive, good. (1930s) Slicks = Smooth tires used in racing. From "Flappers 2 Rappers: American Youth Slang" by Tom Dalzell (Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, Md., 1996). Merriam-Webster online also says slicks are tires with little tread that are used for racing.

slick: A very wide tire, without a tread pattern, designed to provide a maximum amount of traction. It is used for racing on dry surfaces. http://100megsfree4.com/dictionary/car-dics.htm#SL

• Re: "I've got a slick" Michael 16/November/03