shady
gb/ʃˈeɪdi/ us/ʃˈeɪdi/
A2
Inglés
~ 7700
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
informal
B2
property
1
dishonest or suspicious
Looking like a person or thing that does bad or illegal things and cannot be trusted.
Patrón de uso:
a shady [person/organization/deal]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think 'shady' only means 'dark' or 'in the shade'. When used about people, businesses, or deals, 'shady' almost always suggests dishonesty or crime. For physical darkness, 'dark' or 'shadowy' is more neutral.
Sinónimos
dodgy (Common in British English; very similar meaning, often slightly more informal.)
|
suspicious (Focuses more on how something appears rather than on actual dishonesty.)
Antónimos
respectable (Suggests socially approved behavior and reputation, the opposite of having a shady image.)
|
honest (Direct opposite in terms of truthfulness and lack of cheating.)
Colocaciones
shady character
|shady dealings
|shady business
|shady past
|shady scheme
|something feels shady
Temas
crime
|business
|character
|law
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The police are investigating a shady company that promised huge returns.
- He has some shady friends who are always getting into trouble.
- That contract looks shady to me, so I’m not signing it.
- They made their money through some very shady deals in the 1990s.
- The website seems shady, so don’t enter your credit card details.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He seems like a shady man, so I do not trust him.
- We left the bar because it was full of shady people.
- This offer is very cheap and sounds shady.
- She has a shady past and does not like to talk about it.
- They were doing something shady behind the store.
adjective
A2
property
2
protected from direct sun
Not in the direct sun because something like a tree or building blocks the light.
Patrón de uso:
a shady [place/tree/spot]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'shady' with 'shadow'. 'Shady' describes a place that has shade. 'Shadow' is the dark shape made when light is blocked.
Sinónimos
shaded (More technical or descriptive; focuses only on the physical fact of being in shade.)
|
shadowy (Emphasizes low light or many shadows; can sound a bit more mysterious.)
Antónimos
sunny (Direct opposite in terms of sun exposure.)
|
exposed (Focuses on being open and unprotected from sun or weather.)
Colocaciones
shady tree
|shady spot
|shady corner
|shady garden
|nice and shady
|cool, shady place
Temas
nature
|weather
|daily life
Ejemplos
- We found a shady spot under a large oak tree.
- Let’s sit on the shady side of the street where it’s cooler.
- The café has a lovely shady terrace for hot summer days.
- The path becomes pleasantly shady once you enter the forest.
- They moved the chairs to a shadier corner of the yard.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- We had lunch in a shady place in the park.
- I stood under a shady tree to stay cool.
- The dog is sleeping in a shady corner of the garden.
- Let’s put the baby in a shady spot.
- This side of the house is always shady.
adjective
B2
property
3
somewhat dark or shadowy
A little dark because there is not much light, or there are many shadows.
Patrón de uso:
a shady [corner/room/lane]
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse this with the 'dishonest' sense. When 'shady' describes physical places like 'alley', 'lane', or 'corner', it can mean dark, but in some contexts it can also suggest danger or crime. Context and tone are important.
Sinónimos
dim (Focuses on low light, not specifically on shade from sun.)
|
shadowy (Very close in meaning; often suggests a mix of light and shadow, sometimes with a mysterious feeling.)
Antónimos
bright (Opposite in terms of having a lot of light.)
|
well-lit (Stresses enough light for visibility or safety.)
Colocaciones
shady alley
|shady lane
|shady corner
|shady side
|shady interior
|shady grove
Temas
places
|appearance
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- They walked down a narrow, shady alley behind the market.
- The restaurant has a cool, shady interior that feels very relaxing.
- A small, shady lane leads from the main road to the farm.
- The shady side of the garden stays damp after it rains.
- We prefer the shady corner of the balcony in the afternoon.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The room is small and shady, with only one window.
- They sat in a shady corner of the old church.
- We walked through a long, shady tunnel.
- The street is shady and quiet at night.
- She likes the shady side of the house in summer.
adjective
B2
property
4
of doubtful truth or legitimacy
Not clearly true, fair, or legal, and making people feel that something is wrong.
Patrón de uso:
shady [story/deal/practice/explanation]
Error frecuente:
Learners may use only 'bad' or 'not good' for these ideas. 'Shady' is useful when something seems wrong or dishonest, but you do not or cannot prove it. Be careful not to use 'shady' in very formal writing; 'questionable' or 'dubious' fit better there.
Sinónimos
questionable (Focuses on doubt or uncertainty, sometimes less strong than 'shady'.)
|
dubious (Formal or written; emphasizes serious doubt or mistrust.)
Antónimos
legitimate (Opposite in terms of being lawful and acceptable.)
|
aboveboard (Informal; stresses being completely open and honest.)
Colocaciones
shady practices
|shady deal
|shady scheme
|shady explanation
|shady statistics
|shady arrangement
Temas
truth
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The company has been criticized for its shady marketing practices.
- He gave a shady explanation for why the money was missing.
- They used some shady accounting tricks to hide their losses.
- Voters are concerned about the shady deals between politicians and developers.
- The charity denied any involvement in shady financial activities.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The contract looks shady, so I will not sign it.
- People complained about the bank’s shady fees.
- She does not want to be part of shady business practices.
- His answer was shady and did not sound true.
- They made money through shady deals.
adjective
slang
C1
property
5
subtly rude or insulting
Saying or doing something that seems polite on the surface but secretly attacks or insults someone.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is shady toward [someone]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think this slang sense is exactly the same as 'dishonest'. In online and youth slang, 'shady' often means 'mean in a secret way' or 'quietly disrespectful', not only 'criminal'. It is very informal and should be avoided in formal writing or professional contexts.
Sinónimos
snide (Sounds more formal and negative; often used for comments that are clearly nasty.)
|
petty (Focuses on small, mean behavior; not always hidden or indirect.)
Antónimos
straightforward (Opposite in being open and clear, without hidden attacks.)
|
supportive (Opposite in attitude, actively kind instead of subtly mean.)
Colocaciones
that was shady
|being shady
|a shady comment
|shady behavior
|shady tweet
|act shady toward [someone]
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|internet
|communication
Ejemplos
- Posting that screenshot without context was really shady.
- She made a shady comment about his new job that sounded like a compliment but wasn’t.
- That was a shady move, inviting everyone except her.
- He keeps liking shady tweets about his ex on purpose.
- The interview questions were kind of shady toward the guest.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- That joke about her weight was shady.
- He was being shady when he talked about his coworker.
- She made a shady comment about my clothes.
- Posting that photo without asking is shady.
- I do not like it when people act shady online.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
shady
AFI
GB/ʃˈeɪdi/
US/ʃˈeɪdi/
Sílabas y acento
shady (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (shady)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: shady
- Comparative: shadier
- Superlative: shadiest
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
shady area
1/ʃˈeɪdi ˈɛɹiə/
fixed phrase
partly dark or unsafe place
A place that is either dark because of shade, or (in another meaning) known as not safe and full of crime.
Ejemplos
- We walked quickly through the shady area under the bridge.
- Tourists are told to avoid the shady areas near the station at night.
shady business
1/ʃˈeɪdi bˈɪznɪs/
fixed phrase
informal
probably dishonest business
A company or activity that does not follow the law or normal rules and cannot be trusted.
Ejemplos
- He made a lot of money through shady business in real estate.
- They warned us not to get involved with any shady business while we were traveling.
shady character
1/ʃˈeɪdi kˈɛɹɪktɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
person who seems dishonest
A person who looks or acts like they do bad or illegal things and cannot be trusted.
Ejemplos
- There’s a shady character hanging around the parking lot.
- You don’t want to get mixed up with that shady character from the bar.
shady dealings
1/ʃˈeɪdi dˈilɪŋz/
fixed phrase
informal
dishonest business activities
Business or money activities that are probably illegal or not honest.
Ejemplos
- The company collapsed after their shady dealings were exposed.
- Journalists uncovered shady dealings between the mayor and several contractors.
shady neighborhood
1/ʃˈeɪdi nˈeɪbɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
informal
unsafe or criminal area
An area of a city where many people think there is crime and it is not safe.
Ejemplos
- He grew up in a pretty shady neighborhood on the edge of town.
- We got lost and ended up in a shady neighborhood after dark.
shady past
1/ʃˈeɪdi pˈæst/
fixed phrase
informal
history of wrongdoing
A person’s history that includes things that were illegal, dishonest, or socially unacceptable.
Ejemplos
- He changed his name to escape his shady past.
- The politician’s shady past became a major issue in the election.
shady practices
1/ʃˈeɪdi pɹˈæktɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
unethical or dishonest methods
Ways of doing business or work that are not honest or fair, and may be illegal.
Ejemplos
- The company was fined for shady practices in its marketing.
- Regulators are trying to stop shady practices in the loan industry.
shady spot
1/ʃˈeɪdi spˈɑt/
fixed phrase
place in the shade
A small place where the sun does not shine directly because something blocks it.
Ejemplos
- We found a shady spot by the river for our picnic.
- The dog moved to a shady spot under the table to cool down.
shady tree
1/ʃˈeɪdi tɹˈi/
fixed phrase
tree that provides shade
A tree with many leaves or wide branches that makes a cool, dark place under it.
Ejemplos
- Children were playing under a big shady tree.
- We parked the car beneath a shady tree to keep it cool.
that's shady
1/ðˈæts ʃˈeɪdi/
fixed phrase
slang
comment on unfair or mean behavior
A way to say that someone’s action or comment is not honest or is secretly rude.
Ejemplos
- You invited everyone but her? That’s shady.
- Sharing that private message without asking is really shady.