- British/Australian/NZ slang meaning suspicious, unreliable, questionable, potentially unsafe, illegal, or of low quality.
Explanation
Origin
- Emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century.
- The origin is uncertain, possibly linked to the verb dodge (to evade or trick).
- It carries a general sense that something isn't quite right, trustworthy, or legitimate.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Sus (Common modern slang, short for suspicious)
- Janky (US slang for poor quality, unreliable)
- Wonky (Unstable, malfunctioning)
- Bent (UK slang for illegal or corrupt)
Milder:
- Not quite right
- A bit off
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Perfectly fine for warning friends or colleagues (Watch out for dodgy emails).
- Might be too informal for official reports (The data seems questionable instead of dodgy). Calling a person dodgy to their face is insulting.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The meaning is quite broad (suspicious, low quality, unsafe, unreliable, potentially illegal). Non-native speakers need to understand that the specific negative quality depends heavily on the context. It's not easily confused with other words.
Examples
- I bought this watch from a dodgy bloke in the market. (Suspicious, possibly stolen/fake)
- This meat smells a bit dodgy, I don't think we should eat it. (Unsafe, potentially spoiled)
- The company's accounts looked a bit dodgy. (Questionable, possibly illegal)
- My internet connection has been dodgy all day. (Unreliable, poor quality)
- Be careful walking through that area at night, it feels a bit dodgy. (Unsafe)
Dialogue
Anna: Should we try that shortcut through the alley?
Ben: Mmm, I don't know. It looks a bit dark and dodgy down there.
Anna: Yeah, you're probably right. Let's stick to the main road, better safe than sorry.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just got a really dodgy looking text message asking for my bank details. Definitely a scam! #phishing #scamalert
- Forum Post: Bought a charger off eBay, feels really light and dodgy. Worried it's a fire hazard.
- FB Comment: Anyone else's wifi been really dodgy today? Keeps cutting out.
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Yeah, it does look dodgy. / I wouldn't trust it either.
- Disagreement/Reassurance: Nah, it's fine. / It's probably okay.
- Seeking clarification: Why? What makes you say that? / Dodgy how?
- Caution: Best to avoid it then. / Let's be careful.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After something is called dodgy:
- People might investigate further (Let me smell that milk.).
- They might decide to avoid the person, place, or thing (Let's go somewhere else.).
- They might ask for more details about why it seems dodgy.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually a comment or observation about something specific.
Intonation
- Often said with a tone of caution, suspicion, or mild disapproval.
- Stress typically falls on DODGY.
- Seems a bit DODGY to me.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across all generations in the regions where it's common.
Regional Variations
- Very common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
- Less common in North American English, where sketchy or shady are the preferred equivalents, although dodgy is often understood due to media exposure.