tricky
gb/tɹˈɪki/ us/tɹˈɪki/
B1
English
~ 7600
trükkös, nehéz, kényes, érzékeny, sunyi, ravasz, cseles, technikás
B1
1
Usage pattern:
a tricky [task/problem/situation]; [something] is tricky
Parking in the city center can be tricky at this time of day.
A belvárosban ilyenkor trükkös lehet parkolni.
The recipe looks simple, but getting the sauce right is quite tricky.
A recept egyszerűnek tűnik, de elég trükkös jól eltalálni a mártást.
It’s a tricky problem, so take your time before you answer.
This part of the exam is especially tricky for most students.
Installing the software is a bit tricky if you’ve never done it before.
Learner examples
The last question on the test was very tricky.
A teszt utolsó kérdése nagyon trükkös volt.
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky for new drivers.
Szakadó esőben vezetni trükkös lehet a kezdő sofőröknek.
This game is tricky, but it is also fun.
It is tricky to change the tire without help.
The tricky part is remembering all the steps.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'tricky' only for very hard things, but it often means something is a little difficult and needs care, not impossible. They may also confuse 'tricky' (adjective) with 'trick' (verb or noun), saying *'It tricks to do this'* instead of 'It is tricky to do this.'
Meaning
difficult and needing care or skill
Collocations
tricky situation
|tricky question
|tricky problem
|tricky part
|a bit tricky
|can be tricky
Synonyms
difficult (More general and slightly more formal; does not include the idea of needing cleverness as strongly as 'tricky'.)
|
complicated (Emphasizes many parts or steps; 'tricky' can suggest even a simple thing still needs care.)
|
challenging (More positive, often used when difficulty is welcome; 'tricky' is more neutral.)
Antonyms
easy (Direct opposite; something easy does not need much care or skill.)
|
straightforward (Opposite in the sense of being clear and simple, with no hidden difficulties.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Difficult to do or handle and needs care or skill.
Difficult to do or deal with in a way that requires care, attention, or skill.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a tricky [issue/subject/topic/situation]
Money can be a tricky subject to discuss with friends.
A pénz kényes téma lehet, ha barátokkal beszélünk róla.
It’s a tricky issue, because both sides have strong feelings.
Kényes kérdés, mert mindkét félnek erős érzései vannak vele kapcsolatban.
He’s in a tricky position, trying to keep both his boss and his team happy.
Negotiations are always tricky when trust is low.
That’s a tricky topic for a first meeting, so maybe we should avoid it.
Learner examples
Politics is a tricky subject at family dinners.
A politika kényes téma a családi vacsorákon.
Talking about salary with coworkers can be tricky.
Kényes lehet a fizetésről beszélni a munkatársakkal.
It is a tricky situation, because no one wants to say the wrong thing.
The teacher handled the tricky question very carefully.
Their relationship is tricky after the argument.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only 'difficult' for social or emotional topics. In these contexts, 'tricky' or 'sensitive' is often more natural, because the problem is not just hard, but can cause conflict or hurt feelings.
Meaning
delicate or sensitive to handle
Collocations
tricky issue
|tricky subject
|tricky topic
|tricky area
|tricky situation
|tricky position
Synonyms
sensitive (Focuses on emotional or social care needed; close in meaning but less about general difficulty.)
|
delicate (Slightly more formal; highlights the need for tact and care.)
|
awkward (More about social discomfort or inconvenience; 'tricky' emphasizes the risk of problems if handled badly.)
Antonyms
straightforward (Describes topics or situations that can be handled directly without social or political risk.)
|
unproblematic (Shows there is little or no risk of causing trouble when dealing with it.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|work
|relationships
|politics
Definition
Difficult to talk about or manage because it is sensitive and can easily cause problems.
Delicate, sensitive, or awkward to deal with, especially in social, emotional, or political situations where a mistake could cause problems.
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a tricky [person/customer/salesman/opponent]
Be careful with that contractor; he has a reputation for being tricky.
Légy óvatos azzal a vállalkozóval; sokan sunyi alaknak tartják.
She’s a tricky opponent in negotiations and always tries to get more than she offers.
Ravasz ellenfél a tárgyalásokon, és mindig többet próbál megszerezni, mint amennyit ő kínál.
Watch out for tricky salespeople who push you to sign quickly.
He can be a bit tricky when it comes to splitting the bill.
That company is known for using tricky wording in their contracts.
Learner examples
The man seemed friendly, but he was actually very tricky.
A férfi barátságosnak tűnt, de valójában nagyon sunyi volt.
Some tricky people try to sell you fake products online.
Vannak sunyi emberek, akik hamis termékeket próbálnak eladni neked az interneten.
He is a tricky player and often breaks the rules.
Be careful; the offer sounds good, but it might be from a tricky company.
I do not trust him. He looks tricky to me.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'tricky' always has this negative, dishonest meaning. In modern use, the 'difficult' meanings are more common, and this sense often needs clear context about people or behavior.
Meaning
clever but dishonest or deceptive
Collocations
tricky customer
|tricky salesman
|tricky opponent
|tricky character
|a bit tricky
Synonyms
sly (Emphasizes secret, clever behavior; often slightly more negative than 'tricky'.)
|
devious (Stronger and more formal, suggests serious dishonesty or manipulation.)
|
sneaky (Informal and often used for small, secretive, dishonest acts.)
Antonyms
honest (Direct opposite; an honest person does not try to trick or cheat others.)
|
straight (Informal; a 'straight' person is open and fair, not tricky.)
Themes
people
|character
|crime
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Clever in a bad way and likely to cheat or fool people.
Using clever but dishonest methods; likely to trick or deceive other people.
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
a tricky [player/winger/move]
He’s a tricky winger who loves to take on defenders.
Cseles szélső, aki imádja egy az egyben megverni a védőket.
Their most dangerous player is a small, tricky forward with quick feet.
A legveszélyesebb játékosuk egy alacsony, cseles, fürge lábú csatár.
She’s very tricky on the ball and can get past two or three players easily.
Learner examples
The new striker is fast and tricky.
Az új csatár gyors és cseles.
He used a tricky move to score the goal.
Egy cseles mozdulattal szerezte a gólt.
She is a tricky player and hard to stop.
The defender could not follow his tricky footwork.
Fans love watching tricky players on the field.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'tricky' here means dishonest, but in sports it usually means skillful and hard to stop, not unfair or cheating.
Meaning
skillful and hard to handle (sport)
Collocations
tricky player
|tricky winger
|tricky moves
|tricky footwork
Synonyms
skillful (More general and neutral; 'tricky' adds the idea that the skill makes them hard to deal with.)
|
elusive (Focuses on being hard to catch or hold; often used similarly in sports commentary.)
Antonyms
predictable (Opposite in terms of being easy to read or defend against.)
|
clumsy (Opposite in terms of lacking skill or smooth movement.)
Themes
sports
|games
Definition
Very skillful and hard to stop or control, especially in sports.
Skillful in a way that makes someone hard to control, follow, or defend against, especially in sports or games.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tricky
IPA
GB/tɹˈɪki/
US/tɹˈɪki/
Syllables & stress
tricky (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tricky)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tricky
- Comparative: trickier
- Superlative: trickiest
Word family
Forms
trickier
adjective
trickiest
adjective
Core family
trick
noun B1
Related words
trickery
noun
trickster
noun
trickiness
noun
Expressions
a bit tricky
1/ə bˈɪt tɹˈɪki/
fixed phrase
somewhat difficult or awkward
Used to say that something is a little difficult or awkward, but not impossible.
Examples
- Getting tickets at this late stage might be a bit tricky.
- The first few weeks in a new job can be a bit tricky.
tricky business
1/tɹˈɪki bˈɪznɪs/
fixed phrase
complicated or risky matter
An activity or situation that is complicated or risky and easy to do wrong.
Examples
- Raising teenagers can be a tricky business.
- Starting your own company is a tricky business if you have no experience.
tricky customer
1/tɹˈɪki kˈʌstəmɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
a person who is hard to deal with
A person who is difficult to deal with, for example because they complain a lot or are not easy to please.
Examples
- He’s a tricky customer, so be very clear about the rules.
- The manager came over to help with a tricky customer at the desk.
tricky part
1/tɹˈɪki pˈɑɹt/
fixed phrase
the most difficult part
The part of a task or situation that is the hardest and needs the most care.
Examples
- The tricky part is keeping the mixture at the right temperature.
- For many learners, pronunciation is the tricky part of English.
tricky question
1/tɹˈɪki kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
a question that is hard to answer
A question that is hard to answer, often because it needs careful thought or special knowledge.
Examples
- That’s a tricky question; I’ll need to think about it.
- Interviewers like to ask tricky questions to see how you react.
tricky situation
1/tɹˈɪki sˌɪt͡ʃuˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
a situation that is hard to handle
A situation that is difficult and needs care so you do not make a mistake.
Examples
- Losing your passport abroad is a really tricky situation.
- She managed a very tricky situation at work without upsetting anyone.