fishy
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used to describe a situation that feels dishonest or strange, as if someone is hiding something.
adj.arousing suspicion or doubt; suggestive of dishonesty or underhanded dealings.
Simple“He promised to double my money in a week, which sounded very fishy to me.”
In context“The sudden disappearance of the financial records just before the audit struck the investigators as incredibly fishy.”
UsageCommonly used with verbs like 'sound', 'look', or 'seem'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.having the smell or taste of a fish.
adj.resembling, consisting of, or characteristic of fish, especially in odour or flavour.
Simple“The kitchen had a fishy smell for hours after we cooked salmon.”
In context“The supplement had a slightly fishy aftertaste that many consumers found unpleasant despite its health benefits.”
Synonymsbriny - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.used in drag culture to describe a performer who looks very much like a biological woman.
adj.denoting a drag queen or trans woman whose appearance is highly feminine or indistinguishable from a cisgender woman.
Simple“The judges praised the performer for her fishy look on the runway.”
In context“In the context of ballroom culture, achieving a fishy aesthetic is often a point of pride for performers focusing on high-glamour femininity.”
Teacher's tipThis term originated in the LGBTQ+ community and drag subculture; it should be used with an understanding of its specific cultural context.
Synonyms - 04 A1 Beginner
n.a cute or childish way to say 'fish'.
n.a diminutive or hypocoristic form of 'fish', typically used by or when speaking to children.
Simple“Look at the little fishy swimming in the pond.”
In context“The toddler pointed at the aquarium glass, excitedly shouting 'fishy' at the colourful tropical species.”
UsageUsually functions as a countable noun in this sense.
Synonyms
“Parents and teachers have told reporters of slimy chicken, as well as food that appeared undercooked and had a fishy odour.”
From Middle English fishi, fischey, equivalent to fish + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.