iffy
improbable (unwahrscheinlich)
TRANSLATION
iffy = unwahrscheinlich, unentschlossen, ungewiss, unsicher, fraglich, zweifelhaft
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"Giant U.S. cargo planes starting dropping thousands of food packages into Afghanistan. The actual impact of the food drop was IFFY. Two food drops a night could do little to lessen the hunger now threatening millions."
Newsweek
Newsweek
Did you
know?
iffy
adjective (informal)
"Iffy" means that something (or someone) is associated with unknown or uncertain or doubtful qualities or conditions.
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ORIGIN
This interesting derivation of "if" first entered the English language in 1937.
Note also the noun "iffiness".
Today's word would be used more in casual conversation than in a formal speech or text.
Here are some more examples:
- An iffy proposition (doubtful offer)
- An iffy candidate (unsuitable applicant)
- An iffy profession (unlikely to result in success)
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SYNONYMS
doubtful, questionable, tentative, undecided, unsettled, unsure, unreliable, unresolved, in doubt, in the balance;
(informal) up in the air
substandard, second-rate, low-grade, low-quality, of low quality, of poor quality;
(informal) not up to much; dodgy, ropy, not much cop
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO A CONVERSATION TDOAY
Say something like:
"The weather looks a bit iffy this weekend, better cancel the sailing trip".
adjective (informal)
"Iffy" means that something (or someone) is associated with unknown or uncertain or doubtful qualities or conditions.
---
ORIGIN
This interesting derivation of "if" first entered the English language in 1937.
Note also the noun "iffiness".
Today's word would be used more in casual conversation than in a formal speech or text.
Here are some more examples:
- An iffy proposition (doubtful offer)
- An iffy candidate (unsuitable applicant)
- An iffy profession (unlikely to result in success)
---
SYNONYMS
doubtful, questionable, tentative, undecided, unsettled, unsure, unreliable, unresolved, in doubt, in the balance;
(informal) up in the air
substandard, second-rate, low-grade, low-quality, of low quality, of poor quality;
(informal) not up to much; dodgy, ropy, not much cop
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO A CONVERSATION TDOAY
Say something like:
"The weather looks a bit iffy this weekend, better cancel the sailing trip".
