# fishy

/ˈfɪʃi/ (US) · /fˈɪʃi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fishy
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. suspicious

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to describe a situation that feels dishonest or strange, as if someone is hiding something.

For teachers: arousing suspicion or doubt; suggestive of dishonesty or underhanded dealings.

- He promised to double my money in a week, which sounded very fishy to me.
- The sudden disappearance of the financial records just before the audit struck the investigators as incredibly fishy.

Usage: Commonly used with verbs like 'sound', 'look', or 'seem'.

### 2. smelling or tasting like fish

adjective · CEFR B1

having the smell or taste of a fish.

For teachers: resembling, consisting of, or characteristic of fish, especially in odour or flavour.

- The kitchen had a fishy smell for hours after we cooked salmon.
- The supplement had a slightly fishy aftertaste that many consumers found unpleasant despite its health benefits.

### 3. feminine appearance

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

used in drag culture to describe a performer who looks very much like a biological woman.

For teachers: denoting a drag queen or trans woman whose appearance is highly feminine or indistinguishable from a cisgender woman.

- The judges praised the performer for her fishy look on the runway.
- In the context of ballroom culture, achieving a fishy aesthetic is often a point of pride for performers focusing on high-glamour femininity.

Teaching tip: This term originated in the LGBTQ+ community and drag subculture; it should be used with an understanding of its specific cultural context.

### 4. child's word for a fish

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

a cute or childish way to say 'fish'.

For teachers: a diminutive or hypocoristic form of 'fish', typically used by or when speaking to children.

- Look at the little fishy swimming in the pond.
- The toddler pointed at the aquarium glass, excitedly shouting 'fishy' at the colourful tropical species.

Usage: Usually functions as a countable noun in this sense.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.