Fishy
ˈfɪʃi
Definitions
2 meaningsArousing suspicion; questionable.
ˈfɪʃi
Suspicious or questionable
The alibi he gave seemed a little fishy.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see your friend with a brand new expensive toy when they usually have no money. Something just doesn't add up. That's fishy! It means you think something isn't right, like someone might be hiding something.
👶 For kids: When something is fishy, it means it doesn't seem right. Like when you see your friend with candy when they said they didn't have any.
More Examples
The detective thought the witness's story was fishy.
There's something fishy going on with this whole situation.
How It's Used
"I thought the deal sounded a little fishy."
"The sudden change in accounting practices seemed fishy to the investors."
Having the smell or taste of fish.
ˈfɪʃi
Relating to fish or having to do with fish
The water tasted fishy.
💡 Simply: If something tastes or smells like a fish, it is fishy!
👶 For kids: If it smells or tastes like fish, it is fishy.
More Examples
The air near the docks was fishy.
How It's Used
"The fish stew has a slightly fishy taste."
Idioms & expressions
smells fishy
Suspicious; untrustworthy.
"The whole situation smells fishy."
From 'fish,' likely referring to the smell of spoiled fish, and implying something is suspicious or off.
Used since the late 19th century, the term's association with suspicion likely stems from the smell of decaying fish.
Memory tip
Think of a bad smell, like a spoiled fish, that makes you question its freshness. Something fishy smells like a lie or deceit.
Word Origin
"Derived from 'fish' (noun), with the suffix '-y' indicating 'having the quality of'."