schmaltz

[shmahlts, shmawlts] /ʃmɑlts, ʃmɔlts/

noun

Informal. exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas.

fat or grease, especially of a chicken.

Also, schmalz.

Origin

1930-35; < Yiddish shmalts or German Schmaltz; cognate with smelt¹

Examples from the web for schmaltz

He set forth a world view with intellectual coherence and a minimum of schmaltz.
He is full of schmaltz and spouts the latest stencils of psychology while he takes dishonest advantage of a friend.
He could afford to go easy on the schmaltz, and the emotional content of the songs came through all the more clearly.

British Dictionary definitions for schmaltz

schmaltz

/ʃmælts; ʃmɔːlts/

noun

excessive sentimentality, esp in music

(US) animal fat used in cooking

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for schmaltz

"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].

Slang definitions & phrases for schmaltz

schmaltz

noun

Blatant sentimentality, esp musical or theatrical material of a cloyingly sweet and maudlin sort; corn: happy combination of good theater and good pathos known as schmaltz

[1935+ Swing musicians; fr Yiddish shmalts, literally ''rendered fat'']