# shifty

/ˈʃɪfti/ (US) · /ʃˈɪfti/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shifty
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

untrustworthy or dishonest. You use this to describe someone who is trying to hide the truth or someone who looks like they are lying.

For teachers: untrustworthy or dishonest; having a suspicious or evasive manner. Often used to describe a person's character or a person's eyes that seem to avoid looking directly at you.

## Examples

- He gave me a shifty look when I asked about the money.
- The detective noticed the suspect's shifty eyes and decided to question him more closely about the timeline.
- Despite his polished appearance, the witness's shifty behavior during the cross-examination suggested a lack of confidence in his own testimony.

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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.