Word
dicey
US/ˈdaɪsi/
UK/dˈaɪsi/
Definition
adj. risky or uncertain, so you are not sure it will work or stay safe.
adj. risky, uncertain, or likely to fail or cause trouble. Often describes situations, plans, or conditions with an unpredictable outcome.
Examples
“Driving on that icy road feels really dicey.”
“The stairs to the basement look dicey after the flood, so we use a flashlight.”
“Negotiating the final contract felt dicey, with both sides threatening to walk away over minor clauses.”
Examples
simple
“Driving on that icy road feels really dicey.”
contextual
“The stairs to the basement look dicey after the flood, so we use a flashlight.”
complex
“Negotiating the final contract felt dicey, with both sides threatening to walk away over minor clauses.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dicey” in context.
Verb
01. dicey for
“Driving conditions are dicey for anyone without winter tires.”
adj + prep
02. get dicey
“Things started to get dicey when the crowd refused to leave the building.”
verb + adj
03. look dicey
“The engine is making a strange noise and the commute is looking dicey.”
verb + adj
04. remain dicey
“Security in the region will remain dicey until a peace treaty is signed.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. bit dicey
“The situation in the city center is still a bit dicey after the protests.”
adv + adj
06. decidedly dicey
“The weather forecast for the weekend looks decidedly dicey.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. dicey business
“Investing all your savings in a new startup is dicey business.”
adj + noun
08. dicey situation
“The pilot managed to land the plane despite a very dicey situation.”
adj + noun
09. a bit dicey at times
“The mountain path can be a bit dicey at times during the winter.”
10. make things dicey
“The sudden lack of funding could make things dicey for the project.”
11. start to look dicey
“Our chances of winning the game started to look dicey in the final quarter.”
Usage
The adjective is often used predicatively after 'feel', 'look', 'seem', or 'sound'; also used before nouns like 'situation' or 'decision'.
Real-World Examples
“The D.C. jobs report is a little dicey, as usual, but the truth is that Washington has turned into a place where it’s hard to tell who’s employed and who’s not.” Etymology
From dice + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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