Meaning

4 senses
  1. Subject to frequent changes in direction.

    изменчивыйizménčivyj, переменчивыйpereménčivyj

    changing position or direction

  2. Moving from one object to another; not looking directly and steadily at the person with whom one is speaking.

  3. (idiomatic, informal)Having the appearance of being dishonest, criminal, or unreliable.

    He was a shifty character in a seedy bar, and I checked my wallet was still there after talking to him.

  4. Resourceful; full of, or ready with, shifts or expedients.

Examples

2 sentences
  1. He's a shifty character and I don't trust him one bit.

    ruОн скользкий тип, и я ни на йоту ему не доверяю.

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  2. It was an odious face—crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and white lashes.

    deEs war ein abscheuliches Gesicht: durchtrieben, boshaft, heimtückisch, mit verschlagenen, hellgrauen Augen und weißen Wimpern.

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Translations

4 languages
Русский
By meaning 1
Subject to frequent changes in direction:

Forms

shiftier, shiftiest
Comparativeshiftier Lesson
Superlativeshiftiest Lesson

regular

Synonyms

2 synonyms
Close in meaning
  • changing position or direction:shifting
  • characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive:devious

Word family

5 related words

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
shifty — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto