shmaltz

Noun

schmaltz (uncountable)

1. Rendered chicken or goose fat.
   • Even now, as medical science has given a nod to the moderate consumption of saturated animal fats, and the culinary elite has fallen hard for the likes of lard, tallow and duck fat, poor schmaltz remains the babushka-clad cousin not invited to the table. This is a shame, because schmaltz is one the...2014 December 9, Melissa Clark, “Schmaltz Finds a New, Younger Audience”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 10 Dec 2014
2. (derogatory, figuratively) Excessively sentimental art or music.
   • Are you moved because the disco soundscape of “Moon Crystal” reminds you of TV shows from long ago, or because those high, whining violins over funk guitar are eternally gorgeous? […] Schmaltz is schmaltz, and it can make life worth living.2016 April 8, Spencer Kornhaber, “M83's ‘Junk’ Revels in the Joy of Schmaltz”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 10 Jun 2016

See all 3 meanings of schmaltz