a bit sketchy
1
8.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
un poco sospechoso
- While the deal was tempting, the terms were a bit sketchy and hard to understand.
Examples
-
I wouldn't trust that contractor; his estimates seem a bit sketchy.
-
The history of Bodegas Atalaya is a bit sketchy.
Blog text (12) -
That seems a bit sketchy as well.
Blog text (11) -
Martin said that he knows the first 50 kilometers or more from the Amstel Gold Race, but between there and the circuit he is 'a bit sketchy' in terms of how hard the course is.
Blog text (21) -
That's a bit sketchy.
Blog text (19) -
Normally I don't dance with people I don't know, and it tends to be because most of the guys at this place are a bit old and a bit sketchy.
Blog text (21) -
Or they could retract or deny the gift, although doing so frequently would also be visible in the public record, and doing so excessively would make one look a bit sketchy.
Blog text (29) -
*which isn't to say that Patrick hasn't got some skeevy sexist shit in his brain; I totally agree that this particular example seems a bit sketchy.
Blog text (9) -
Luckily, that theory is a bit sketchy since the Oregon Ducks are playing on a different level these days, and while going up against Stanford, Oregon State, and either UCLA or USC is far from a cakewalk, this team at the moment seems destined to once again play for it all.
Blog text (9) -
The information he provided was a bit sketchy, making me question its reliability.
Synonyms
176
3.9
Probably not true or trustworthy
98
5.3
Seen as probably dishonest or not trustworthy
90
6.5
Not clearly true or trustworthy and causing doubt
79
5.5
Not honest and likely to do illegal things
50
4.4
Seeming dishonest and making people feel suspicious
38
3.0
Not likely to be true or real
25
7.6
Appearing unsafe or not to be trusted
21
4.8
Not honest or reliable with promises
15
9.9
Seeming strange and not trustworthy
13
8.2
Likely to be unsafe or untrustworthy
Slightly suspicious and not completely trustworthy
Seeming suspicious without a clear reason
A person or thing that seems dishonest and not trustworthy
Antonyms
How Trustworthy
88
2.1
- Informal
1
8.6
176
3.9
- Informal
79
5.5
128
2.5
90
6.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
This phrase is compositional: 'a bit' means 'a little' and 'sketchy' means 'questionable/untrustworthy', so a B1 learner who knows both parts can readily infer 'somewhat suspicious' from the combination. The degree-modifier + adjective pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English composition, making the meaning immediately accessible.
Etymology
A bit sketchy comes from the image of a quick, rough drawing called a sketch that leaves out important details. If something is only 'a bit' like that, it feels incomplete or unreliable, so the phrase now means 'somewhat suspicious or untrustworthy'.