schmear

or schmeer

[ shmeer ]

nounSlang.
  1. a dab, as of cream cheese, spread on a roll, bagel, or the like.

  2. a number of related things, ideas, etc., resulting in a unified appearance, attitude, plan, or the like (usually used in the phrase the whole schmear).

  1. a bribe.

verb (used with object)Slang.
  1. to spread; smear: Schmear it on the bread.

  2. to bribe.

Origin of schmear

1
First recorded in 1930–35 for def. 5, and 1955–60 for def. 4; apparently from Yiddish shmirn “to smear, grease”; compare Middle High German smirwen (German schmieren ); see smear
  • Also shmear, shmeer .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for schmear

schmear

schmeer

/ (ʃmɪə) /


noun
  1. US informal a situation, matter, or affair (esp in the phrase the whole schmear)

Origin of schmear

1
C20: from Yiddish shmirn to smear or grease

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012