General
banana oil
What does banana oil mean?
Smooth, greasy persuasion meant to butter someone up.
"He talked his way out of the ticket with pure banana oil."
Origin
1920s American slang, hugely popularized by cartoonist Milt Gross, whose 1924 comic strip 'Banana Oil!' fixed the phrase in the public ear. It draws on the real chemical banana oil (a solvent), used metaphorically for slippery nonsense.
Frequently asked questions
What does banana oil mean?
It means nonsense or slick flattery, similar to 'baloney' or 'malarkey'.
Where did banana oil come from?
It was 1920s slang made famous by Milt Gross's 1924 comic strip 'Banana Oil!', echoing the real solvent of the same name.
Is banana oil an insult?
It is dismissive but light. Calling someone's words banana oil mocks them as empty, not vicious.
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