tricky attitude

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tricky attitude" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's demeanor or behavior that is difficult to understand or navigate, often implying a level of cunning or deceit. Example: "Her tricky attitude made it hard for the team to trust her during negotiations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We lacked a bit of a tricky attitude.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This is particularly tricky, as attitudes to noise can change during the journey.

The Economist

Ward is a self-assured virtuoso from Oakland, possessed of a serious attitude and a tricky style — two attributes that help assure victory in the ring and a relatively low profile outside of it.

The New Yorker

This was a collective effort to strike a critical, if still supportive, attitude towards capitalism a tricky duality encapsulated in Mr Cameron's curious defence of what, eschewing the toxic word "market", he called the "free-enterprise system".

The Economist

Loyalty is not tricky if you adopt the attitude that by being loyal you are devoted to your mate's best interest.

WikiHow

Mr. Schumacher has assembled a hard-working young cast led by the Irish actor Colin Farrell, who manages to sound credibly Texan and to capture his character's tricky mix of goodheartedness and bad attitude.

The New York Times

Tricky, stocky, quick and with a good attitude, there's a lot going for him, but as a striker, it's all about scoring goals.

Independent

For the attitude, be super sweet, but tricky when needed.

WikiHow

It can be a little tricky, because politics between groups may influence behavior, attitudes, and discussions in subtle ways.

Business Intelligence Guidebook From Data Integration to Analytics

Good planning and infrastructural investment coupled with a good attitude makes Iceland an example to small nations everywhere and tricky opponents for someone in the play-offs.

The Guardian - Sport

This was tricky, but because the founders and employees were deeply committed to this attitude, they developed the following solution: "You can't complain here," Tamara explained.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character in fiction, use "tricky attitude" to subtly imply cunning or hidden motives without explicitly stating them.

Common error

Avoid using "tricky attitude" excessively; instead, vary your language with synonyms such as "challenging demeanor" or "difficult disposition" to maintain reader engagement and avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tricky attitude" functions as an adjective-noun combination used to describe a person's disposition. "Tricky" modifies "attitude", indicating a quality of being difficult to understand, handle, or predict. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tricky attitude" is used to describe a demeanor characterized by unpredictability and difficulty. Grammatically correct, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adjective-noun combination to depict a complex personality. While relatively rare, its usage spans across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as wiki and scientific publications. The phrase conveys a sense of someone not being straightforward, requiring careful handling. It's important to use the phrase judiciously and consider alternatives like "challenging demeanor" or "difficult disposition" for stylistic variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging demeanor

Replaces "tricky" with "challenging" and "attitude" with "demeanor", focusing on the difficulty presented by the person's behavior.

difficult disposition

Substitutes "tricky" with "difficult" and "attitude" with "disposition", highlighting the problematic nature of their character.

problematic mindset

Replaces "tricky" with "problematic" and "attitude" with "mindset", emphasizing the issues arising from their way of thinking.

uncooperative nature

Shifts the focus to the lack of willingness to collaborate implied by the "tricky attitude".

crafty behavior

Highlights the cunning aspect of a "tricky attitude" by using "crafty" to describe the behavior.

deceptive conduct

Focuses on the misleading or dishonest aspect of the "tricky attitude", using stronger vocabulary.

manipulative approach

Emphasizes the controlling aspect of a "tricky attitude" with the word "manipulative".

cagey personality

Uses "cagey" to suggest a reluctance to provide information or commitment, similar to a "tricky attitude".

complex character

Indicates that the person's attitude is hard to understand because it is complex.

unpredictable temperament

Focuses on the instability and uncertainty implied by a "tricky attitude".

FAQs

How can I use "tricky attitude" in a sentence?

You can use "tricky attitude" to describe someone whose behavior is difficult to understand or manage. For example: "His "tricky attitude" made negotiations difficult".

What are some alternatives to "tricky attitude"?

Alternatives include "challenging demeanor", "difficult disposition", or "problematic mindset", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "tricky attitude"?

It's appropriate when describing someone's behavior or demeanor that is difficult to predict, handle, or trust, often implying a level of cunning or deceptiveness.

Is "tricky attitude" formal or informal?

"Tricky attitude" leans towards a neutral to slightly informal register, suitable for general descriptions but potentially less appropriate in highly formal or academic contexts.