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Schmear
01
(New York) a spread of cream cheese, typically on a bagel
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
schmears
What does "schmear" mean in New York slang?
The structure is a simple noun borrowed from Yiddish "schmear" (to spread or smear), brought into English through Jewish deli culture. It is used in New York to describe a spread of cream cheese, typically on a bagel, often ordered with specific amounts like "a light schmear" or "a generous schmear." People typically say "I'll take a bagel with a schmear" when ordering from a deli or bagel shop.
Examples
I always get my bagel with a schmear of plain cream cheese.
