dodgy funds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dodgy funds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to money that is suspicious, illegal, or not properly accounted for, often in financial or legal contexts. Example: "The investigation revealed that the company had been operating with dodgy funds, raising concerns about its financial practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Will the world see more Jordan Belforts, more Paul Bilzerians and more dodgy funds tied to the people who govern our lives?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr Gore is Clinton's understudy, with particularly high marks for dodgy fund-raising; Mr Bush spent the past six years blamelessly governing a rugged south-western state.

The Economist

Here, on the very same day that the attorney-general let him off the hook for dodgy fund-raising phone calls, was his chance to appear before the cameras as a child-loving techno-saint.But Mr Gore had other reasons for appearing, besides Ms Varney's flattering anecdote.

The Economist

The regulatory soft touch has brought dodgy hedge funds, curious special purpose vehicles, and over-extended financial institutions.

The Guardian

Even if only half of that was undeclared (experts think it was more), the settlement amounted to just 8% of dodgy client funds.

The Economist

He allegedly under-reported more than $1m of his restaurant's sales and wages.The indictment comes after a two-year investigation, sparked by allegations of dodgy political fund-raising.

The Economist

When David Cameron finally admitted to ITV that he had owned a stake in his father's dodgy offshore fund – after avoiding the question for several days – it only emphasised that he can't be trusted when it comes to setting tax law.

Vice

Hedge fund investors were wiped out, the hedge funds' dodgy assets landed on Bear Stearns's balance sheet, and later on JPMorgan Chase's balance sheet, after it acquired Bear Stearns.

Huffington Post

Hardly a week goes by without another scandal involving a professor sexually assaulting a student or a deal made with a dodgy company to fund nuclear arms research.

Vice

It wants to avoid a reputation as a tax haven or somewhere dodgy to park questionable funds.

The Economist

No less shocked were Goldman executives, who on Friday discovered that the company, and a London-based executive director, Fabrice Tourre, had been named in an alleged $1bn fraud in and around 2007, involving dodgy mortgages, powerful hedge funds and extraordinarily boastful emails.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "dodgy funds", ensure the context clearly implies financial irregularity or illegality to avoid misinterpretation.

Common error

While "dodgy funds" is understandable, it can sound informal. In formal reports or academic papers, consider more neutral alternatives like "questionable funds" or "funds of uncertain origin".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dodgy funds" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "dodgy" modifies the noun "funds". It typically refers to financial resources that are of questionable legality, origin, or ethical standing. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dodgy funds" is a valid and understandable expression used to describe financial resources of questionable or illegal nature. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While slightly informal, it appears frequently in news media and can be replaced with more neutral alternatives like "suspicious funds" or "questionable funds" in formal contexts. It's important to use the phrase carefully to avoid misinterpretation and ensure the context clearly implies financial irregularity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Suspicious funds

Replaces "dodgy" with a more neutral term suggesting uncertainty and the need for investigation.

Questionable funds

Similar to "suspicious funds" but implies a higher degree of doubt regarding the legitimacy of the funds.

Illegitimate funds

Indicates that the funds were obtained or are being used in violation of the law.

Dubious funds

Conveys a sense of uncertainty and potential deception surrounding the funds.

Shady funds

Informal term implying secrecy and dishonesty in the origin or management of the funds.

Dirty money

Suggests that the funds were acquired through illegal activities such as drug trafficking or organized crime.

Ill-gotten gains

Highlights the unethical or unlawful manner in which the funds were obtained.

Black money

Refers to funds that are concealed from tax authorities or are otherwise part of the shadow economy.

Offshore funds

Implies funds that are moved to other tax havens in order to evade tax payments and hide the resources.

Tainted funds

Suggests that the funds are associated with some form of corruption or illegal activity, staining their reputation.

FAQs

What does "dodgy funds" mean?

The term "dodgy funds" refers to money that is suspected of being obtained illegally, used for illicit purposes, or handled in a manner that is ethically questionable.

What can I say instead of "dodgy funds"?

You can use alternatives like "suspicious funds", "questionable funds", or "illegitimate funds" depending on the context.

Is "dodgy funds" appropriate for formal writing?

While understandable, "dodgy funds" might be too informal for academic or professional writing. Consider using more neutral terms like "funds of uncertain origin" or "funds of questionable legality".

How do I use "dodgy funds" in a sentence?

You might say, "The investigation revealed that the company had been operating with "dodgy funds", raising concerns about its financial practices" or "The politician was accused of using "dodgy funds" to finance his campaign".