sleek
sleek — adjective
1. describes hair or fur that looks soft, bright, and pressed flat against the surf
describes hair or fur that looks soft, bright, and pressed flat against the surface, usually because it has been well brushed or washed.
Putri brushed her cat until its fur looked sleek and glossy.
collocation: sleek fur / sleek hair
The groomer made the old dog's coat sleek with a special shampoo.
Dahlia's sleek hair, smoothed back with a little gel, shone under the bright stage lights.
After using the new conditioner, Jisoo's hair felt sleek and soft in the morning.
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns for body hair or fur (hair, coat, fur). Can also describe feathers on a bird.
常見錯誤
2. describes the look of a car, device, building, or piece of furniture that has a
describes the look of a car, device, building, or piece of furniture that has a clean, flowing shape with no sharp edges or extra parts sticking out.
The new bullet train has a sleek design that cuts through the wind.
collocation: sleek design
At the furniture showroom, Inês admired the sleek lines of the modern wooden table.
Samir traded his old truck for a sleek black sports car.
The sleek laptop has a metal body that feels thin and light in your bag.
That sleek, modern glass building on the corner won an award for its streamlined shape.
- streamlined
stronger implication of aerodynamic or efficient design
- elegant
more general, can apply to any beautiful thing
- smooth
focuses on texture rather than shape
用法筆記
Often used in advertising and product reviews to suggest speed, efficiency, or modern luxury. Subject is typically a vehicle, electronic device, or architectural structure.
常見錯誤
3. describes a person who wears fashionable, high-quality clothes and gives an impr
describes a person who wears fashionable, high-quality clothes and gives an impression of wealth, success, and careful grooming.
Ignacio arrived at the party looking sleek in his dark suit and polished shoes.
pattern: looking sleek in [clothing]
The sleek businessman wore a custom suit and designer watch stepping from a car.
Rania looked sleek and confident as she received the award on stage.
Emily's sleek outfit and gold watch turned heads at the office dinner.
- well-groomed
focuses on neatness and care, less on fashion
- stylish
emphasises fashion sense rather than wealth
- dapper
used mostly for men, implies neat and elegant
用法筆記
Implies an overall impression of polish — clothes, posture, and grooming together. Can carry a faint negative tone of being too image-conscious, though usually neutral or positive.
常見錯誤
sleek — verb
1. to press or brush hair or fur so that it becomes shiny and lies flat against the
to press or brush hair or fur so that it becomes shiny and lies flat against the surface, often using water, gel, or oil.
Talia sleeked her hair back with a little gel for the concert.
pattern: sleek + noun + back (direction particle)
Nila sleeked the dog's fur with a damp brush before the show.
Matthew sleeked down the loose strands with a drop of water.
The groomer sleeked the horse's mane until it shone like silk.
文法句型
sleek + noun
sleek + noun + back/down
用法筆記
Much less common than the adjective. Most English speakers use 'slick back' instead for hair. In formal or literary writing, 'sleek' (verb) may be preferred for describing animal grooming.
2. to describe something bad or unpleasant in a way that deliberately makes it seem
to describe something bad or unpleasant in a way that deliberately makes it seem less serious than it really is, usually by hiding the worst details.
The report sleeked over the company's safety problems during the factory tour.
pattern: sleek over + noun phrase (problems, issues, failures)
Politicians often sleek over bad economic news with promises of future growth.
The manager sleeked over the budget problems and changed the topic quickly.
The newspaper sleeked over the scandal by printing a short note on page ten.
- gloss over
far more common; the standard expression
- cover up
stronger implication of deliberate hiding
- whitewash
implies a dishonest attempt to make something look good
- expose
to reveal the truth openly
文法句型
sleek + over + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with the particle 'over' — 'sleek over' is the standard form. This sense is rare in everyday conversation; 'gloss over' is far more common. Learners should recognise it rather than actively use it.