fishy
UK: ˈfɪʃi | US: ˈfɪʃi
adj. 1. resembling or suggestive of fish, especially in smell or taste
adj. 2. (informal) arousing suspicion or doubt; questionable
The word "fishy" combines the noun "fish" (from Old English fisc, meaning "aquatic animal") with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives indicating resemblance or characteristic. Originally, it described literal fish-like qualities (e.g., smell or taste). By the 19th century, it evolved metaphorically to describe suspicious situations, likely due to the association of fish with spoilage or deceit (e.g., "a fishy story").
The soup had a fishy odor, so I didn’t eat it.
His explanation sounded fishy, so we decided to investigate further.
The deal seemed fishy from the start, with too many hidden clauses.
She wrinkled her nose at the fishy taste of the sushi.
The politician’s sudden wealth raised fishy questions among journalists.