schmear

English

Alternative forms

• shmear
• schmeer
• shmeer

Etymology

Yiddish שמיר‎ (shmir, “smear, spread”); cognate with German schmieren, English smear.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪə(r)

Noun

schmear (plural schmears)

1. A spread that goes on a bagel
2. A batch of things that go together
3. An aggregate

Verb

schmear (third-person singular simple present schmears, present participle schmearing, simple past and past participle schmeared)

1. To spread something, often a bagel spread.
2. (slang, transitive) To bribe.
   • 1969, Morris Renek, Siam Miami (page 131)

     "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?"

   • 2003, Lawrence Block, Small Town (page 638)

     […] I slipped the guy a hundred dollars."
     "You had to schmear him to sell you a patch?"

Anagrams

• Marches, machers, marches