tricky — difficult to deal with or do; requiring skill and care
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: difficult to deal with or do; requiring skill and care
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtrɪki/
Example Sentences
- My cat is tricky - he pretends to be asleep but steals my food when I'm not looking.
- The interview questions were tricky, designed to test our critical thinking skills.
- Parallel parking is tricky for new drivers, but becomes easier with practice.
tricky
ADJECTIVE[/ˈtrɪki/]
difficult to deal with or do; requiring skill and care
Defusing the bomb is tricky — one wrong wire and it's over.
Tricky steps through sticky floors and icky spills!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Tricky derives from the noun 'trick,' which originated from Old French 'trique' (deception, stratagem). The adjective form emerged in English during the 16th century, initially meaning 'resembling or characterized by deception,' and gradually expanded to denote anything requiring skill, caution, or careful handling.
Breakdown
trick (noun: a deceptive or cunning stratagem) + -y (adjective suffix meaning 'characterized by' or 'having the quality of'), forming an adjective describing something deceptive, difficult, or requiring careful management.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat is tricky - he pretends to be asleep but steals my food when I'm not looking.”
“The interview questions were tricky, designed to test our critical thinking skills.”
“Parallel parking is tricky for new drivers, but becomes easier with practice.”
“She gave me a tricky smile that made me wonder what she was really thinking.”
📚Related Words
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