slippery as an eel
slippery as an eel - Hard to grasp; elusive, and, by extension, deceitful. The eel’s long slender body, with only minute scales deeply embedded in the skin, looks totally smooth and is very slippery when wet. These characteristics gave rise to the simile, which dates back to the fourteenth century and is still used today.
Similar Terms & Expressions
- Slip through one’s fingers - To escape, to elude capture or comprehension.
- Like trying to herd cats - A futile and challenging endeavor.
- Like nailing jelly to the wall - An impossible task, lacking structure.
- Slippery slope - A situation prone to quick and easy missteps leading to worse outcomes.
- Greased lightning - Something or someone that moves extremely quickly.
Synonyms
- Evasive
- Elusive
- Slick
- Deceitful
- Slithery
Antonyms
- Straightforward
- Honest
- Anchored
- Transparent
- Graspable
Humor-Filled Quotes & Proverbs
- “Politicians are as slippery as eels in a barrel of snot.” —Ellis Redding, The Shawshank Redemption (Imagine if it actually were!)
- “It’s like wrestling with Jell-O, a task designed for Herculean patients only.” —Anonymous Office Worker
- “Never try to catch an eel with soapy hands… or metaphorically, a slippery deal with empty promises.”
References in Literature & Culture
- Books: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller often navigates elusively difficult situations with gallows humor.
- Songs: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac discusses the elusive nature of relationships.
- Movies: Ocean’s Eleven showcases the sly, slippery maneuvers of a heist team.
Quizzes
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Slippery as an eel
- [ ] Greasier than a buttered walrus
- [ ] Sliding on banana oil
- [ ] Climbing a hill of pudding
> **Explanation:** "Slippery as an eel" is a real idiom referencing how hard it is to catch an eel—very slippery! The other options, while amusing, are not actual idioms.
### In which situation can you say 'slippery as an eel'?
- [ ] Catching an honest lawyer
- [x] Trying to negotiate with a cunning con artist
- [ ] Baking without ingredients
- [ ] Dancing with wooden shoes
> **Explanation:** The phrase "slippery as an eel" fits perfectly when describing someone tricky or elusive, like a con artist. It's less apt for other occupations and activities.
### True or False: 'Slippery as an eel' implies absolute trustworthiness.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. The phrase actually implies the opposite—someone hard to trust or pin down.
### A similar saying to 'slippery as an eel' could be:
- [x] Slip through one's fingers
- [ ] Solid as a rock
- [ ] Tough as nails
- [ ] Clear as mud
> **Explanation:** "Slip through one's fingers" captures the essence of something difficult to hold onto, much like "slippery as an eel."
As you navigate through life’s slippery moments, may your grasp remain firm, your wit sharp, and your spirit undaunted.
– Ella Quent, Oct 2023
