schmaltz

[ shmahlts, shmawlts ]

noun

1. Informal. exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas.
2. liquid animal fat, especially of a chicken.

schmaltz

/ ʃmɔːlts; ʃmælts /

noun

1. excessive sentimentality, esp in music
2. animal fat used in cooking

Word History and Origins

Origin of schmaltz¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Yiddish shmalts or German Schmalz; cognate with smelt ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of schmaltz¹

C20: from German ( Schmalz ) and Yiddish: melted fat, from Old High German smalz

Example Sentences

The annual schmaltz-fest is over and we can all go back to normal.

From The Daily Beast

After growing up in Virginia Beach, Va., as Andrea Schmaltz, she got pregnant at 16.

From The Daily Beast

The serious one of the pair contended that Otto Schmaltz, the character played by Shean, did not have a whole shirt on his back.

From Project Gutenberg

Schmaltz and Lachaumareys took the lead along the coast, and all the expedition followed.

From Project Gutenberg

He and Schmaltz they couldn't have it whole because "half of the back is on the front."

From Project Gutenberg

And again the fortune of Schmaltz was swept away and again he was kicked.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow or other the story of Schmaltz and the shirt had made him sad.

From Project Gutenberg