shady

From shade +‎ -y. Compare Saterland Frisian skaadich, skaddich (“shady”), German schattig (“shady”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃeɪdi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪdi

shady (comparative shadier, superlative shadiest)

1. Abounding in shades.
2. Causing shade.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 40:22:

     The shady trees cover him with their shadow.

3. Overspread with shade; sheltered from the glare of light or sultry heat.
   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Building”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:

     you may have rooms both for summer and winter; shady for summer, and warm for winter

4. (informal) Not trustworthy; disreputable.

   Synonyms: corrupt, dodgy, dubious, equivocal, seedy, sketchy, suspicious

   He is a shady character.

   • 1991, “Blue Lines”, in Blue Lines, performed by Massive Attack:

     No sunshine in my life, the way I deal is shady

   • 2009: Stuart Heritage, Hecklerspray, Friday the 22^nd of May in 2009 at 1 o’clock p.m., “Jon & Kate Latest: People You Don’t Know Do Crap You Don’t Care About”

     Jon & Kate Plus 8 is a show based on two facts: 1) Jon and Kate Gosselin have eight children, and 2) the word ‘Kate’ rhymes with the word ‘eight’. One suspects that if Kate were ever to have another child, a shady network executive would urge her to put it in a binbag with a brick and drop it down a well. But this is just a horrifying tangent.

5. (UK, slang) Mean, cruel.
   • 2006 May 24, Saucy Jack, “BB7: Did Shabazz just deserve that?”, in uk.media.tv.misc‎ (Usenet):

     They were being proper shady to him. Even if you don't like someone, locking them out, stealing their clothes and ganging up on them to take the piss is just childish.

   • 2007, Grace Dent, Diary of a Chav 2: Slinging the Bling:

     I didn't even ask her to be in the 'Increase the Peace' campaign, which was well shady, 'cos if anyone knows anything about rudes and violence and getting dragged into stuff it's Uma.

   • 2007, Chastity Danielle Infinity, Jamo Lorswal, A Rose So That It May Rain, page 155:

     "Don't be shady," she said, "You know I always pay up."

• dashy