oily rag
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
An employee in a menial, unskilled role in a factory or workshop.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A cigarette; fag.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “oily rag” mean?
An employee in a menial, unskilled role in a factory or workshop.
Is “oily rag” formal or informal?
oily rag is generally derogatory, slang.