dodgy practices

USAGE SUMMARY

"dodgy practices" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe unethical or questionable behavior, often in a business or legal context. Example: The company was accused of engaging in dodgy practices to avoid regulations. Alternative expressions include "shady practices" and "unethical practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Dodgy practices on the part of the police?

The Guardian - Books

Barcelona's lawsuit comes as allegations of dodgy practices have reached soccer's top echelons.

The New York Times

There are fines for sanctions busting and exchange rate fixing and "settlements" for multifarious dodgy practices.

The Guardian - Opinion

But faith schools aren't the only ones engaged in dodgy practices.

The Guardian

It revealed a good deal of historical corruption as well as some continuing dodgy practices among undercover officers.

The Economist

The latest example, by the Daily Beast's editor-at-large, Lloyd Grove, is headlined Morgan admits dodgy practices.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Many reforms (like those of 1974 to clean up campaign finance) end up exacerbating other problems or creating new forms of dodgy practice.

The Economist

Name and shame can to some extent influence corporate behaviour, and the commercial penalties when dodgy practice is exposed (think VW) can be huge.

Independent

Like downloading shared music or watching pirate DVDs, it's an essentially dodgy practice that is still sometimes irresistibly tempting to the economically-minded and the curious.

The Guardian - Film

Chappell, who captained an Australia team described as one of the best in history, said that he had altered his cricket commentary in the past in order to compensate for "dodgy" practice.

The Guardian - Sport

"Parallel trading", as this dodgy practice is described in Hong Kong, is fuelling a backlash.The protest (pictured above) in Sha Tin district followed a similar one a week earlier in Tuen Mun, another suburb which is also a short hop from the border.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific industries (e.g., "dodgy banking practices" or "dodgy tax practices") to provide immediate context for the reader.

Common error

While "dodgy practices" is effective for storytelling and reporting, it lacks the precise legal weight required for formal indictments or official contracts. In those cases, opt for more technical terms like "unethical conduct" or "procedural irregularities" to maintain a professional standard.

Linguistic Context

In terms of grammatical function, "dodgy practices" acts as a noun phrase typically serving as the direct object of a verb or the object of a preposition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is a standard construction where the adjective "dodgy" modifies the plural noun "practices".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Informal & Blogs

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academic

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dodgy practices" is a robust and widely recognized English expression used to denote unethical or suspicious behavior. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it is particularly prevalent in high-quality journalism, often used to expose corporate, political, or social misconduct. While it carries a slightly informal tone characteristic of British English, its clarity makes it a favorite for writers who need to describe wrongdoing succinctly. It effectively bridges the gap between everyday speech and formal critique, though writers should opt for more clinical terms like "unethical conduct" when drafting formal legal or academic documents. Overall, it remains a highly useful tool for signaling caution and moral disapproval in modern writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable practices

Shifts the tone to a more formal and objective inquiry into ethics.

shady dealings

Uses more idiomatic language to emphasize secrecy and dishonesty.

unethical conduct

A formal, professional alternative suitable for legal or corporate settings.

dubious methods

Focuses specifically on the techniques or processes being used suspiciously.

unscrupulous behavior

Highlights a lack of moral principles or conscience in the actions taken.

underhanded tactics

Suggests a level of craftiness and deliberate deception.

sharp practices

A British idiom often referring to barely legal but sneaky business moves.

suspicious activities

A broader term often used in security or surveillance contexts.

illicit procedures

Stronger implication that the actions may actually be illegal.

crooked ways

A more colorful and informal way to describe pervasive dishonesty.

FAQs

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

You can use it to describe suspicious behavior, for example: "The regulator is investigating the firm for its dodgy practices regarding consumer data."

What can I say instead of "dodgy practices"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "questionable practices", "shady dealings", or "unethical conduct".

Is "dodgy practices" considered formal English?

It is generally considered neutral to informal. While frequently found in reputable news sources like The Guardian, it might be too colloquial for academic papers or formal legal briefs.

What is the difference between "dodgy practices" and "illegal practices"?

"Dodgy practices" implies that something is suspicious, unethical, or dishonest, but not necessarily against the law. In contrast, "illegal practices" refers to actions that explicitly violate established laws.