slick down

slick down (third-person singular simple present slicks down, present participle slicking down, simple past and past participle slicked down)

1. To make hair flat by putting oil, water, etc. on it.
   • 1967, Sleigh, Barbara, Jessamy, 1993 edition, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 96:

     His unruly hair was slicked down with water, and as Jessamy introduced him to Miss Brindle his face assumed a cherubic innocence which would immediately have aroused the suspicions of anyone who knew him.

• slick back