- The new meaning of greasy is used to describe a sleazy, disgusting person. This usage is a metaphorical extension from greasy meaning ‘soiled of foul with grease’. A person who is greasy is disreputable and trashy with a personality that is repulsive and dirty-minded. This term was most likely created because physical grease and uncleanliness have a resemblance to metaphorical uncleanliness of the mind and heart. A negative stereotype towards blue-collared workers that perform manual labor that often makes them dirty could have possibly led to beliefs that their personalities were dirty as well, leading us to the usage where greasy describes a foul, dirty mind and personality.
greasy
adjective; derivation inherited derivation
sleazy, foul (often referring to a person)
Etymology : This term inherited the derivation of the existing word. This derivation is formed by the addition of the English adjective-forming suffix –y on the end of the root grease.
Source : “Don’t talk to that sleazy guy over there. He is so greasy.” – friend (Oct 30, 2015)
Last modified: 13 December 2015