smell fishy
To seem suspicious.
VERBS
be, look, seem, smell, sound
That explanation looks fishy to me, so I'm not sure I believe it.
ADV
very | definitely, distinctly | a bit
PHRASES
something fishy
I noticed something fishy about his excuse, so I asked him more questions.
adj
Of, from, or similar to fish.
What is that fishy odor?
The ſwifteſt Ship beneath with ſudden Chains / In mid Career the fiſhy Bank detains. / The Wind all uſeleſs in the Canvas roars, / In vain the Sailors tug the ſticking Oars. / Fixt as a Rock the ſteady Throng abides; / The Ship as anchor'd in her Harbour rides.
Suspicious; inspiring doubt.
I don't trust him; his claims seem fishy to me.
Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.
Of a drag queen or a trans woman: appearing very feminine and resembling a cisgender woman.
One day I dressed up all out fishy to go to my mother's place. I knocked and started walking in past her. She was like 'Can I help you?' I said, 'Ma?' and she was like OMG! She actually thought I was one of her boyfriend's hoochie [mamas].
adjective — not as expected
To seem suspicious.
What is that fishy odor?
WiktionaryThe ſwifteſt Ship beneath with ſudden Chains / In mid Career the fiſhy Bank detains. / The Wind all uſeleſs in the Canvas roars, / In vain the Sailors tug the ſticking Oars. / Fixt as a Rock the ſtead
Wiktionary[William] Dampier. The Fleſh of both young and old is lean and black, yet very good Meat, taſting neither fiſhy nor unſavoury: A Diſh of Flamingo's Tongues being fit for a Prince's Table. They are lar
WiktionaryHer mother must have smelled something fishy.
Tatoeba · #320698I was locked out! There's got to be something fishy going on.
Tatoeba · #328559My husband tells me he goes to work even on Sundays and holidays but sometimes I suspect there's something fishy about his story.
Tatoeba · #410215i Register
In some senses, fishy is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.