shadyshad‧y /ˈʃeɪdi/ adjective (comparative shadier, superlative shadiest) 
a shady street It was nice and shady under the trees.► see thesaurus at dark2probably dishonest or illegal SYN suspicious: a shady character She’s been involved in some shady deals.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- shady trees
- He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the Cayman Islands.
- His acceptance of a huge loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.
- She's been involved in some shady deals.
- These plants will grow best in shady conditions.
- We'd suspected for a while she was involved in something a bit shady.
- And he likes to see him-self as a romantically shady character.
- Beyond him up the shady driveway is a three-story country house, a wide verandah all the way around it.
- From a place on the shady side I watched the most forlorn spectacle I have ever seen.
- It allows them to keep a beadier one on the shady characters behind the scenes.
- It helped several shady entrepreneurs to buy assets all over the world.
- Others sat out on carpets beneath the shady trees enjoying the cool of the evening.
- The dark, leafless cottonwoods and rustling wind give the shady canyon a decidedly spooky feel.
- Wealthy nobles inhabited splendid villas surrounded by shady groves and fertile gardens.
THESAURUS
if a place is dark, there is little or no light: · The room was very dark.· No, you can’t play outside, it’s too dark.· It was a dark night with clouds covering the moon.
a dimly-lit building or place is fairly dark because the lights there are not very bright: · a dimly-lit restaurant· The church was dimly lit.
a dim light is fairly dark: · The camera can take good pictures even in dim lighting.· The evening sky grew dim.
a darkened room or building is darker than usual, especially because its lights have been turned off or the curtains have been drawn: · The prisoner lay in a darkened room.· The play starts with a darkened stage, and the sound of a woman singing softly.
a gloomy place or room is not at all bright or cheerful: · The bar was gloomy and smelled of stale cigar smoke.
dark and difficult to see through – used especially about water: · the murky waters of the lake· I could hardly see him in the murky light of the bar.
completely dark, so that nothing can be seen: · It was pitch-dark inside the shed.
a shady place is cooler and darker than the area around it, because the light of the sun cannot reach it: · It was nice and shady under the trees.· They found a shady spot for a picnic.
seeming to be dishonest if someone or something seems suspicious, they make you think that something dishonest or illegal is happening: · The police are treating the boy’s death as suspicious.
if something seems dubious, you think it may not be completely true, right, or honest: · He has a rather dubious reputation.· It all sounds highly dubious to me.· the country’s dubious record on human rights
shady business deals or people seem to be dishonest or connected with secret and illegal activities: · Several senior members of the party had been involved in shady deals.· a shady character
someone who looks shifty looks as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · The man on the market stall looked a bit shifty when he gave me my change.
British English informal probably dishonest and not to be trusted – used especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · There’s something a bit dodgy about him.· dodgy business deals
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone or something seems dishonest use this about behaviour or a situation that makes you think that someone is doing something dishonest: · It all seems very suspicious to me. Where did he get all that money from?· The circumstances surrounding McBain's death are suspicious.· He glanced around, satisfied that nobody was taking any notice of his suspicious behaviour, then opened the door.suspicious-looking: · There was a suspicious-looking man standing in a doorway across the street.
use this to describe business deals or the people involved in them, when they seem dishonest or illegal, especially because the business is secret: · His acceptance of an interest-free £125,000 loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.shady deal: · He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the Cayman Islands.
someone who is shifty looks or behaves as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · There's something shifty about that guy.· a shifty, fast-talking lawyer
British informal probably dishonest, although you are not sure of the facts - use this especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · Don't buy a car from him, he's a real dodgy character.· The whole thing looks distinctly dodgy to me.
use this about someone's behaviour or a business arrangement that does not seem completely right or correct, so that you think it is probably dishonest: · He had been involved in some questionable business activities at one time.· Marantz resigned after discovering that dubious business deals were being negotiated by his fellow officials.highly dubious/questionable: · The whole deal seems highly dubious to me.
informal use this about someone you think is doing or planning something dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · If you ask me, that husband of hers is up to no good.· Anyone waiting around on street corners at night must be up to no good.
when something makes you suspect someone · We thought his behaviour was suspicious and called the police immediately.· There was a suspicious silence as I opened the door.· The public have been asked to report anything suspicious at once.in suspicious circumstances · A full murder inquiry was launched after the company chairman died in suspicious circumstances.
informal something that is fishy or sounds fishy makes you suspect that something bad or dishonest is being done: · Frank said there was nothing to worry about, but it all sounded very fishy to me.· There's something fishy about this business, if you ask me.
also dodgy British informal shady deals and other activities seem to have something dishonest or illegal about them. A shady person is someone who seems likely to be involved in dishonest or illegal activities: · We'd suspected for a while she was involved in something a bit shady.· He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the City.· His acceptance of a huge loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a shady character She’s been involved in some shady deals.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1protected from the sun or producing shade: a shady character She’s been involved in some shady deals. (=protected from the sun – used about outdoor places)· Plant the herbs in a shady corner of the garden.
(=dishonest or illegal)· Some senior members of the party were involved in shady deals and bribery.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· It allows them to keep a beadier one on the shady characters behind the scenes.· And he likes to see him-self as a romantically shady character.· Freddie lived by his wits and he was involved with many shady characters.· A bit of a shady character, and a womanizer.
· Sanctions and boycotts are not only questionable policies - driving a resourceful and desperate regime into shady deals with other countries.· He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the Middle East.
· Sow in a moist, shady spot in summer to avoid early bolting.· Malplacket found a shady spot in the wadi and sat down to write his will.
a shady street It was nice and shady under the trees.► see thesaurus at dark2probably dishonest or illegal SYN suspicious: a shady character She’s been involved in some shady deals.