dodgy
adj/ˈdɒd͡ʒ.i/
Etymology From dodge (verb) + -y. First used in mid-19th century England.
1
Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, Colloquial Evasive and shifty.
- Asked why, a spokesman gave a dodgy answer about legal ramifications.
2
Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, Colloquial Unsound and unreliable.
- Never listen to dodgy advice.
- The dodgy old machine kept breaking down.
3
Colloquial Dishonest.
- The more money the better, because there is always that dodgy politician or corrupt official to bribe.
- I am sure you wouldn't want to be seen buying dodgy gear, would you? (stolen goods).
1 more example
- No doubt you’re tired of reading about his colourful escapades – about his glamorous home, his allegedly dodgy tenderpreneur deals, his gushing praise of malevolent dictators, or his soundly articulated international economic policy.2010 November 10, Pratish Mistry, “Why Julius Malema is important to the ANC”, in NewsTime:
4
Colloquial Risky.
- This is a slightly dodgy plan, because there is a lot that is being changed for this fix.
- “The market is getting edgier and edgier, and what is accepted in the marketplace gets dodgier and dodgier,” said Martin E. Abrams, the executive director of the Center for Information Policy Leadership at the law firm Hunton & Williams, a research organization financed by companies like Google, Microsoft and Best Buy.2007 November 1, Louise Story, “F.T.C. to Review Online Ads and Privacy”, in The New York Times:
5
Colloquial Deviant.
- He's a dodgy Peeping Tom.
6
Colloquial Uncomfortable and weird.
- The situation was right dodgy.
- I'm feeling dodgy today, probably got the flu.
1 more example
- Churchill's own forefathers were among the dodgiest of the lot -- one a spendthrift, another a child molester, a third so reclusive that he went three years without saying a word.2002 October 27, Burkhard Bilger, “Fortune Hunters and Gatherers”, in The New York Times: