Dodgy
ˈdɒdʒi
Definitions
2 meaningsOf questionable honesty or reliability; suspicious.
ˈdɒdʒi
Suspicious or unreliable
I wouldn't buy a car from that dealer; they seem a bit dodgy.
💡 Simply: It means something or someone you can't really trust. Like, if a salesperson offers you a deal that seems *too* good to be true, it might be dodgy.
👶 For kids: If something is dodgy, it means you're not sure if it's safe or if you can trust it.
More Examples
The information they provided was dodgy, so I didn't believe them.
Be careful about accepting help from people you don't know; they might be dodgy.
The electrical wiring in the old house was looking rather dodgy.
How It's Used
"He made some dodgy investments and lost a lot of money."
"The company has a dodgy reputation due to its questionable business practices."
"I thought he was a bit dodgy and didn't trust him."
Difficult to manage or control, potentially involving risk or danger.
ˈdɒdʒi
Difficult to handle or manage; risky
The weather conditions for the mountain hike seemed a bit dodgy.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tricky situation or a place that could cause problems. Like, that hiking trail with loose rocks? Dodgy!
👶 For kids: If something is dodgy, it means it might be a little bit dangerous or tricky.
More Examples
Driving on icy roads can be dodgy.
The stairs were old and dodgy, so we avoided using them.
The equipment looked dodgy, so we didn't use it.
How It's Used
"The terrain was dodgy for running, full of loose rocks and slippery patches."
"He had a dodgy knee, and was unable to run or play sports."
Idioms & expressions
dodgy dealings
Dishonest or unethical business practices.
"The company was involved in dodgy dealings that led to a scandal."
Likely derived from the verb 'dodge,' implying an evasive or untrustworthy nature. Its origins trace back to British slang.
The term 'dodgy' emerged as slang in the UK, initially referring to something or someone dishonest or of questionable character. It gained wider usage across various contexts, including business, finance, and general situations.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'dodge'-ball being thrown at you – you'd want to avoid it because it's potentially harmful, just like a dodgy situation.
Word Origin
"Evasive, tricky, or unreliable; related to avoiding or evading something."