come across shady

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #600 [color=blue]“Real Life: Scams and Fraud (2)”, question 2

I’m not sure if I trust that salesman. He comes across as a little … to me and there is something that I don’t trust about him.

(a) sunny
(b) credible
(c) shady
(d) firm

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #600 [color=blue]“Real Life: Scams and Fraud (2)”, answer 2

I’m not sure if I trust that salesman. He comes across as a little shady to me and there is something that I don’t trust about him.

Correct answer: (c) shady

Your answer was: [color=red]incorrect
I’m not sure if I trust that salesman. He comes across as a little firm to me and there is something that I don’t trust about him.
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

Why firm is wrong ?

2

Because shady is the only adjective that means “untrustworthy” and therefore tallies with the idea of the sentence - that there’s something that I don’t trust about him.

3

Dear Sirs and Madams,

Please clarify why adjective “shady” is used in this question as a noun.

Thank you in advance!

4

It isn’t used as a noun. The noun would come after it, but here is it omitted and assumed:
He comes across as a shady person.
shortened to
He comes across as shady.