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schmear en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ʃmɪə(ɹ)/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שמיר (shmir, “smear, spread”); compare German schmieren. Doublet of smear, smearcase. By surface analysis, schm- + smear. The sense “bribe” is from Yiddish שמירן (shmirn, “to smear, to bribe”), senses found also in German schmieren. The implication is that a bribe helps “lubricate” an interaction.

Meanings

1. A spread that goes on a bagel.
2. A batch of things that go together.
   • So you can buy a la carte programming, or you can buy the whole schmear. 1994, United States. Congress. Joint Economic Committee, Field Hearing: Defense Conversion: Hearing..., page 21:
3. An aggregate.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
shmeer		alternative	lexicographic
shmear		alternative	lexicographic
schmears	Number=Plur		lexicographic
schmeer		alternative	lexicographic

schmear en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ʃmɪə(ɹ)/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שמיר (shmir, “smear, spread”); compare German schmieren. Doublet of smear, smearcase. By surface analysis, schm- + smear. The sense “bribe” is from Yiddish שמירן (shmirn, “to smear, to bribe”), senses found also in German schmieren. The implication is that a bribe helps “lubricate” an interaction.

Meanings

1. To spread something, often a bagel spread.
2. (slang, transitive) To bribe.
   • […] I slipped the guy a hundred dollars." "You had to schmear him to sell you a patch?" 2003, Lawrence Block, Small Town, page 638:
   • "What happened?" "Nothing." "How could nothing happen if you're not with her? Listen, did you grease that d.j.?" "No." "You didn't schmear him? You think the world owes you a living?" 1969, Morris Renek, Siam Miami, page 131:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
schmears	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres		lexicographic
schmeer		alternative	lexicographic
shmeer		alternative	lexicographic
schmeared	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
schmeared	Tense=Past		lexicographic
schmearing	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part		lexicographic
shmear		alternative	lexicographic