verb

• to act foolish; under the influence of alcohol or drugs; or to do something dangerous.

  That boy was actin' last night.

  by Brian, Downingtown, PA, USA, Oct 15 2002.

adjective

• suspicious; SHADY.

  That deal sounds rather dodgy.

  by Alex S., UK, Mar 13 1998.

• dangerous.

  That's a dodgy part of town.

  by Alex S., UK, Mar 13 1998.

• of questionable character, strange.

  I'd stay away from that guy, he looks dodgy.

  by Alex Schouten, UK, Mar 13 1998.

• of poor quality.

  It's a bit dodgy in the way it's been put together.

  by Matthew R., Blackpool, United Kingdom, May 31 2004.

notes

• See also sketchy.

  by Anonymous, Jul 13 2007.

adjective

• immoral or illegal.

  Their company has been involved in some shady dealings.

  by Jose Arellano, Lubbock, TX, USA, Sep 22 1997.

• suspicious.

  That deal sounds rather shady.

  by Jose Arellano, Lubbock, TX, USA, Sep 22 1997.

• unclear or purposely misleading.

  He's being shady about what went on.

  by Jose Arellano, Lubbock, TX, USA, Sep 22 1997.

• dangerous.

  That's a shady part of town.

  by Karl, Boston, MA, USA, Apr 15 1998.

adjective

• of questionable character, strange.

  I'd stay away from that guy, he looks sketchy.

  I'd stay away from that guy, he looks sketch.

  by Columbia, Walpole, MA, USA, Dec 25 1997.

• dangerous.

  That's a sketchy part of town.

  by Alex S., UK, Mar 13 1998.

• suspicious.

  That deal sounds rather sketchy.

  by Alex S., UK, Mar 13 1998.

notes

• also sketch.

  by Lisa Wendel, Washington, DC, USA, Feb 19 1998.