What does 'dodgy' mean?

What it means: Suspicious, unreliable, of poor quality, or ethically questionable. One of the most versatile informal words in British English.

Three main uses:

1. Suspicious/untrustworthy: "That seller looks a bit dodgy." "A dodgy deal."

1. Poor quality: "The food was a bit dodgy." "That wiring looks dodgy."

1. Unwell or unreliable: "I've had a dodgy stomach all week." "My car's been dodgy lately."

What it implies: A vague, general sense that something isn't quite right — but without necessarily being able to specify why. It's intuitive rather than precise.

Origin: Probably from "dodge" — something that dodges or evades being straightforward.

Register: Informal British English. Rarely written in formal contexts. Americans would need it explained.

Tags: British English, suspicious, informal, vocabulary