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Difference between In grease and In the grease

in grease —(of an animal) fat and fit for killing:

  • The harts are “in grease” from August to the middle of October.

in the grease —(of sheep’s wool) not cleansed when shearing:

  • If you wash the sheep you should do it thoroughly, for otherwise you had better shear in the grease.

Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase be greased(sl.) be drunk:

  • Look at him stumble around! He is so greased he can hardly stand on his own two feet!