Dodgy

✨ adjective · Adjectives
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Traditional Still common
Definition
Suspicious, unreliable, poor quality.
Example Sentence
"That looks dodgy, I wouldn't eat it."

Where "Dodgy" Comes From

"Dodgy" comes from the older English verb "to dodge," meaning to evade or shift about cunningly — a "dodger" was originally someone skilled at avoiding or cheating.

The adjective "dodgy" grew out of that sense in British English before spreading widely through Australian and other Commonwealth varieties of English, describing anything that seems evasive, unreliable, or simply not quite right.

Word Type
Adjective
Category
✨ Adjectives
Origin
🇦🇺 Australian English
Usage
Informal / Spoken
Era
Traditional

How Aussies Actually Use It

"Dodgy" covers a huge range of situations — a dodgy deal, dodgy Wi-Fi, dodgy-looking leftovers — anything that raises a small red flag.

It's a mild, everyday word rather than a serious accusation, usually said with a note of caution or humour rather than outright alarm.

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