fishy

/'fiʃi/

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The word "fishy" is an adjective that has a couple of meanings, both of which can be understood quite easily.

Basic Meaning

1. Suspicious or Not Right: When something seems strange or not quite correct, we can say it is "fishy." It suggests that there might be something wrong or that we should be careful.

   • Example: "There was something fishy about the way he answered the questions." (This means his answers seemed suspicious.)

2. Related to Fish: It can also mean something that smells or looks like fish.

   • Example: "The soup had a fishy smell." (This means the soup smells like fish.)

Usage Instructions

• Use "fishy" when you feel that something is not right or when something literally smells or resembles fish.
• It is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Advanced Usage

• You can use "fishy" in more complex sentences to describe situations or behaviors that seem dishonest or untrustworthy.
  • Example: "Her motives seemed fishy, making us wonder if she had hidden intentions."

Word Variants

• Fishiness (noun): This refers to the quality of being suspicious or the smell of fish.
  • Example: "There was a fishiness in his explanation that made us doubt him."

Different Meanings

• While "fishy" primarily means suspicious or related to fish, in certain contexts, it can also describe something that is strange, odd, or not quite right in a general sense.

Synonyms

• Suspicious
• Questionable
• Dubious
• Odd
• Strange

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Something smells fishy": This idiom means that something seems suspicious or not right.

  • Example: "I think something smells fishy about his story."

• There aren’t many common phrasal verbs that use "fishy," but it is often used in phrases or idioms as shown.

Summary

In summary, "fishy" is a versatile word that can describe both suspicious situations and things related to fish.

Academic

Adjective

1. not as expected
   • there was something fishy about the accident
   • up to some funny business
   • some definitely queer goings-on
   • a shady deal
   • her motives were suspect
   • suspicious behavior
2. of or relating to or resembling fish
   • the soup had a fishy smell

Synonyms

• funny
• shady
• suspect
• suspicious