slickety
Slippery underfoot, usually one bad patch of mud, ice, or wet boards.
Also called slickity.
Updated September 24, 2026
slickety pronunciation
/SLIK-uh-tee/
Meaning
Used when a spot will make you slide if you are not careful. Think a muddy gate, wet porch steps, or the greasy place where the cows cross. Folks say it as a warning more than a compliment. If somebody means done fast and easy, they are usually saying slickety-split, not plain slickety.
How folks use it
- “Watch that bank by the creek. It gets slickety after a hard rain.”
- “Them porch steps are slickety where the hose drips.”
Origin and etymology
Built on slick with a playful -ety ending common in Southern and Appalachian talk. Folk glossaries treat it as slippery, not as a speed word. Slickety-split (like lickety-split) is the related phrase people use for going real fast.
Frequently asked questions
Does slickety mean quickly?
Not by itself. For speed, folks usually say slickety-split. Plain slickety is about a slick spot that can dump you.