something is fishy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something is fishy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something seems suspicious or not quite right. Example: "When I saw the discrepancies in the financial report, I thought to myself that something is fishy about this situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Is he out of his mind??? Something is fishy.

Huffington Post

And Judea Pearl, Daniel's father, said, "Something is fishy.

The New Yorker

Fortunately, Judge Harry Seymour Crump seems to recognize that something is fishy.

The New York Times - Sports

Oh, and something is fishy with the last top diplomat's disappearance.

The Guardian

Edward G. Robinson is the suspicious claims investigator who knows something is fishy but doesn't know who's responsible.

The New York Times

Her equally intrepid intern, the puppyish Zack (Gabriel Mann), already believes something is fishy -- he points out that Gale's lawyer is incompetent and other obvious facts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The judge still thought something was fishy.

The New York Times - Magazine

Something was fishy, and South concluded that West was producing the odor.

The New York Times - Arts

"I thought something was fishy from the get-go," Laurie said, adding that Rosanna was "blinded" by love.

The New York Times

I'm thinking that we would start to notice something was fishy if it came within about 1000 light years of our solar system.

Cornell University

Thomas Goodwin, who pitches for his own Bronx team, figured that something was fishy when he learned about the speed of Danny Almonte's fastball.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something is fishy" when you want to express a gut feeling or intuition that something is not right, without necessarily having concrete evidence. It's suitable for informal contexts and adds a touch of color to your language.

Common error

Avoid using "something is fishy" in highly formal or professional settings where a more direct and less colloquial expression would be more appropriate. Opt for alternatives like "there are inconsistencies" or "this warrants further investigation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something is fishy" primarily functions as an idiomatic expression, conveying a sense of suspicion or doubt. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English. It indicates that a situation or circumstance seems questionable or potentially deceptive, aligning with examples found in news articles and informal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "something is fishy" is a common and useful idiom for expressing suspicion or a gut feeling that something isn't right. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used, although more suited to informal or neutral contexts than formal writing. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, and less so in academic or business settings. When writing, consider the audience and context to decide if a more direct or formal alternative would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something smells fishy

Emphasizes the intuitive sense that something is wrong, similar to using one's sense of smell.

something seems suspicious

Directly states that a situation or thing raises suspicion.

something doesn't add up

Focuses on logical inconsistencies or contradictions within a situation.

something is amiss

A more formal way of saying something is wrong or out of place.

there's something off

Informal way to express a feeling that something is not right.

I suspect something

Indicates a personal feeling of suspicion.

I have my doubts

Expresses uncertainty or skepticism about something.

I'm getting bad vibes

Focuses on a negative feeling or intuition about a situation.

a red flag went up

Highlights a signal that indicates potential danger or deception.

this raises some eyebrows

Suggests that something is unusual or questionable, attracting attention.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "something is fishy"?

It means that something seems suspicious, dishonest, or not quite right. It often implies that there's a hidden problem or deception.

What are some alternative phrases to "something is fishy"?

You can use alternatives like "something seems suspicious", "something doesn't add up", or "there's something off" depending on the context.

Is "something is fishy" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "something is fishy" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more direct and professional language, such as "there are inconsistencies" or "the situation warrants further investigation".

How can I use "something is fishy" in a sentence?

You can use it to express your suspicion about a situation. For example, "The company's sudden increase in profits seems odd; I think "something is fishy"."