fishy
adj.adj. describing a situation that feels dishonest or strange. You use this when you suspect someone is lying or hiding something.
adj. arousing suspicion or doubt; suggesting dishonesty or illegality. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem', 'look', or 'sound'.
His story about the lost keys sounds fishy.
The sudden change in the contract terms felt fishy, so the lawyer decided to investigate the company further.
While the initial proposal appeared legitimate, the lack of transparent financial records made the entire investment opportunity seem increasingly fishy to the board of directors.
From Middle English fishi, fischey, equivalent to fish + -y.
Commonly used in informal or semi-formal contexts to express intuitive suspicion.
I smell something fishI smell something fishyLearners sometimes use the noun 'fish' instead of the adjective 'fishy' when describing a suspicious situation.