fishy business

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fishy business" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that seems suspicious or dishonest. Example: "The sudden disappearance of funds from the account raised some fishy business concerns among the board members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Fishy business, to be sure.

The New Yorker

This is not to say that Iran is not involved in any fishy business.

The Guardian - Opinion

Correction Reprints Related items The European Commission: There's a lot of fishy business going onMay 9th 2002.

The Economist

We went to a mad reef, full of psychedelic coral and thousands of cool fish going about their fishy business.

The Guardian - Travel

"Fishy business" is going on in Minnesota, Mr. Hannity told listeners last week, with Democrats and election officials "up to no good".

The New York Times

The case of the missing clicks Stepping out Fishy business Capitalism's last frontier Ho dear The higher they climb Reprints Related items Pernod: Local tastesNov 10th 2005Pernod won because it made the best offer.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Something Fishy: Harried business folk jetting in and out of Tokyo often miss the city's best show and sushi.

Forbes

Hardwick was pushing back against complaints from the Romantics and their sympathizers, such as Peyre, who might have bridled at her harshness but who shared her feeling that something was fishy in the business of reviewing.

The New Yorker

For years, the pattern had struck many people in the boxing business as fishy.

The New York Times - Sports

And while the whole idea may smell a little fishy at first, the potential business opportunities are nothing to sneeze at.

Forbes

Seems fishy.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fishy business", ensure the context provides enough clues to suggest the possibility of wrongdoing, such as unexplained financial discrepancies or unusual behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "fishy business" in highly formal or professional reports where a more neutral or technical term like "irregularities" or "anomalies" would be more appropriate. Overuse can undermine the credibility of your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fishy business" primarily functions as a noun phrase used to describe a situation or activity that is questionable or suspicious. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and is widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fishy business" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe questionable or suspicious activities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and used across various contexts, but primarily in news and media. While not suitable for highly formal settings, it effectively conveys a sense of doubt or suspicion. For more formal situations, alternatives like "suspicious activity" or "questionable dealings" may be more appropriate. Remember to provide sufficient context when using this phrase to ensure your message is clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspicious activity

Focuses on the action rather than the overall situation, implying a specific event is questionable.

questionable dealings

Emphasizes the business aspect, suggesting the transactions or agreements are dubious.

dubious practices

Highlights the methods used, implying they are unethical or unreliable.

shady behavior

Refers to the conduct of individuals, suggesting they are acting secretively or dishonestly.

irregular operations

Implies the procedures or processes are not following the standard or legal norms.

dodgy dealings

A more informal term suggesting untrustworthy or potentially illegal business.

underhanded tactics

Focuses on the methods used, highlighting their deceitful nature.

nefarious activities

A stronger term indicating wicked or criminal behavior.

corrupt practices

Directly accuses the actions of being immoral or dishonest, especially involving bribery.

deceptive practices

Suggests actions are intended to mislead or trick others.

FAQs

What does "fishy business" mean?

"Fishy business" refers to a situation or activity that seems suspicious, dishonest, or not quite right. It often implies potential wrongdoing or illegal behavior.

What can I say instead of "fishy business"?

You can use alternatives like "suspicious activity", "questionable dealings", or "dubious practices" depending on the context.

Is "fishy business" a formal or informal term?

"Fishy business" is generally considered an informal term. While it's acceptable in casual conversation and some news articles, it's best to avoid it in formal reports or academic papers.

How do I use "fishy business" in a sentence?

You can use "fishy business" to describe any situation that seems questionable. For example, "The sudden increase in the company's profits looks like some kind of fishy business."