General
dodgy
What does dodgy mean?
Of poor quality, unreliable, or dishonest and not to be trusted.
"That deal sounds a bit dodgy to me."
Origin
From 'dodge' (to evade), British slang since at least the mid-20th century. The sense of 'evasive' broadened into 'untrustworthy' and then 'generally unreliable or off.'
Frequently asked questions
What does dodgy mean in British slang?
It means something or someone is suspect, unreliable, or low quality — a dodgy deal, a dodgy phone, a dodgy character.
Can dodgy describe feeling ill?
Yes — a 'dodgy stomach' or 'dodgy knee' means it's playing up or not working right.
Is dodgy offensive?
No, it's casual and very common in the UK. It implies suspicion but isn't a slur or swear.
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