schmaltz

/ʃmɑlts/
noun
  1. Excessive sentimentality, especially in music, art, or writing; overly emotional or corny content.
    • The movie was full of schmaltz, with a sappy love scene every ten minutes.
    • The author's writing was criticized for its schmaltz and lack of real emotion.
    • Some people love the schmaltz of old holiday songs, but others find them too cheesy.
  2. Rendered fat, usually from chicken or goose, used in cooking, especially in Eastern European Jewish cuisine.
    • My grandmother always used schmaltz to make the flakiest pie crust.
    • The recipe calls for schmaltz instead of butter for an authentic flavor.
    • He spread schmaltz on bread for a traditional, rich snack.
What does "schmaltz" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean