dicky

9.3

A part that does not work properly or is weak, often for body parts and machines

adjective
/ˈdɪki/

: defectuoso

The old laptop is quite dicky; it crashes unexpectedly during important tasks.

What if, oh, you knew you had a bit of a dicky tum, So you've been you've been shitting like you're bleeding a radiator all day.

Examples

The car has a dicky ignition, often failing to start when I need it to.
After the storm, the power supply became dicky, causing frequent outages in the area.
All I'm seeing is the same clever, dicky, trendy-boy-arty-farty crap they were doing 15 years ago.

Blog text (6)

Synonyms

dysfunctional

vsdicky

96 6.1

Not working properly or doing its job

is the informal British way of saying the same idea

flaky

vsdicky

Informal

6 7.0

Tending to fail or change without warning

describes general faulty or weak condition rather than instability

janky

vsdicky

Slang

4 8.8

Poor quality and not reliable

focuses more on functional faults or mechanical weakness

wonky

vsdicky

Informal

3 7.7

Not working correctly, often for devices, apps, or websites

applies to any faulty item rather than only technical equipment

busted

vsdicky

Informal

2 7.2

Not working because it is broken

is more about a fault or weakness rather than total breakage

buggy

vsdicky

1 3.9

Having many small errors or problems in a program

focuses more on general faults or weakness, not only errors

ropey

vsdicky

1 9.2

Poor in quality and not good enough

describes poor functioning or mechanical weakness rather than just low quality

crocky

vsdicky

9.6

Old and in bad condition, it often stops working

is about being faulty or weak regardless of age or wear

ropy

vsdicky

9.3

Of very poor quality and not good

focuses on faults weakness or malfunction rather than general low quality

Antonyms

reliable

358 2.7

Able to be trusted to do what is expected

functional

81 3.2

Working correctly so it can be used

Compounds

dicky engine

9.6

An engine that often stops working and leaves you stranded

dicky-seat

Archaic

9.9

A small fold-out seat at the back of an old two-seat car

How Reliable

reliable

358 2.7

unreliable

71 4.1

dicky

9.3

broken

31 1.0

Surface Forms

dicky positive

Etymology

Dicky is British informal slang for something faulty or for a person who feels unwell. Its origin is unclear, but a helpful way to remember it is to link the ending icky to the word 'icky' meaning 'unpleasant' or 'not right', so calling a car or knee dicky is like saying it is 'a bit icky' or not working properly.