The adjective 'fishy'

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello! Just this question!

Something can be
fishy. But, can Someone be fishy too?

Thanks indeed!

Jes?s.

2

Have a look, Jesus, at this link
onelook.com/?w=fishy&ls=a

3

That’s a great site, Pamela

4

Hi, Thanks a lot for the link!

But, I still don?t know if I can use the term
to mean someone is suspicious.

If I had to give you an answer, I would say ‘No’.

I think I couldn?t say something like:

He?s likely to be a fishy man by the way
he is walking and looking at us. Let?s run
away!. He is coming!.

Is that correct?

Thanks a lot!

Jes?s

5

Yes, you may say fishy man.

6

Hi Jes?s

Fishy is probably mainly used to describe things/situations. You can also apply it to people to say that the person doesn’t seem trustworthy or honest.

I don’t like your example because “He’s likely to be a fishy man” indicates that you won’t know for sure whether he’s fishy or not until the future. Usually you cannot predict “fishiness”. Referring to someone/something as fishy usually happens after you’ve had contact with the person and have already decided that the person seems fishy.

Something about him is fishy.
He seems very fishy to me.

Amy

7

Hi Jesus

You are right.
To say somebody is, or looks (a bit) fishy, means there is something suspect about him/her.
And it is not usually used with a noun: you wouldn’t say a fishy man

A better way to phrase that is: “I don’t think I can say . .”

8

Thanks a lot, Amy!

Now I get it!

Jes?s

9

Thanks a million for that “I don?t think I can say…”
, Art!

Jes?s