Word
hairy
US/ˈhɛɹi/
UK/hˈeəɹi/
Definitions
01covered in hair
B1 · Intermediate
adj. having a lot of hair on the body.
adj. covered with hair, especially in reference to human body hair.
日本語:毛深い※
“He has very hairy arms and legs.”
“The actor had to shave his hairy chest for the role to better fit the character's sleek, athletic aesthetic.”
Synonyms
02covered in fur
B1 · Intermediate
adj. having a lot of fur, like an animal.
adj. covered with thick fur or long hair; often used to describe animals or textiles.
“The dog is big and hairy, but he is very friendly.”
“The caterpillar was covered in tiny, hairy bristles that served as a defense mechanism against local predators.”
Antonyms
03scary or dangerous
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. dangerous, scary, or difficult to deal with.
adj. frighteningly hazardous, precarious, or difficult; often used to describe a close call or a tense situation.
“The drive through the mountains was a bit hairy because of the thick fog.”
“It got a bit hairy on the flight when the engine started making a strange noise during the storm.”
Usage
Often used with 'bit' or 'moment' to describe a specific part of an experience.
Teaching tip
This is a very common British and American idiom for 'scary' in a physical or high-stakes sense.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“In China, these legumes are referred to as mao dou, translating to "hairy beans," while in Japan, they are known as edamame, or "branch beans.” Etymology
From Middle English hery, heeri, hary, equivalent to hair + -y. Compare Saterland Frisian hierich (“hairy”), West Frisian hierrich (“hairy”), Dutch harig (“hairy”), German Low German harig (“hairy”), German haarig (“hairy”), Swedish hårig (“hairy”), Icelandic hárugur (“hairy”). Compare also Old English hǣriht (“hairy”) and ġehǣre (“hairy”). The sense "terrifying, scary" possibly results from a blend of hair-raising and scary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. hairy molly
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hairy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0