schmaltz
pronunciation
How to pronounce schmaltz in British English:
UK [ʃmɔ:lts]
How to pronounce schmaltz in American English:
US [ʃmɑlts]
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- Noun:
- (Yiddish) excessive sentimentality in art or music
Word Origin
- schmaltz
- schmaltz: see enamel
- schmaltz (n.)
- "banal or excessive sentimentalism," 1935, from Yiddish shmalts, literally "melted fat," from Middle High German smalz, from Old High German smalz "animal fat," related to smelzan "to melt" (see smelt (v.)). Modern German Schmalz "fat, grease" has the same figurative meaning. First mentioned in English as "a derogatory term used to describe straight jazz" ["Vanity Fair," Nov. 1935].
Example
- 1. She didn 't know her friend was gonna throw a vat of schmaltz on my boss .
- 2. Vw launched the modern advertising look we know today -- abandoning text-heavy schmaltz in favor of cool visuals .
- 3. State media still indulges in horrific invective against the south korean president , lee myung-bak , suggesting that , despite its discovery of american schmaltz , the regime 's attitude remains dangerously paranoid .
- 4. Tropical cyclone billy , seen off the coast of western australia on december 25 , 2008 by the modis instrument on nasa 's aqua satellite . ( Nasa / jeff schmaltz , modis rapid response team , goddard space flight center )