Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Wary; careful.
  • adjective Crafty; shrewd.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective wary, careful, shrewd
  • adjective uncommunicative; unwilling or hesitant to give information.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective characterized by great caution and wariness
  • adjective showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Unknown

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Examples

  • Onto the match and the first half could best be described as "cagey" - this is the polite way of saying it was a bit dull.

    Soccer Blogs - latest posts 2009

  • KURTZ: When Lou Dobbs abruptly quit CNN, he was kind of cagey about what he'd do next.

    CNN Transcript Nov 29, 2009 2009

  • This guy is not only funny and informative, but he's pretty "cagey" in getting the journalistic "goods" on the "bad guys."

    Greg Palast | The Goods on Goodling and the Keys to the Kingdom Michael Caddell 2007

  • National Congress international affairs spokesman Thabo Mbeki was "cagey" on the ANC's exact representations to Mr Vance.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1992

  • The number of new properties on the market surged in February but with buyers "cagey", the number of unsold houses across the country ballooned, the real estate industry says.

    Stuff.co.nz - Stuff 2010

  • Dewar said Nicholson has been "cagey" but his office promised a response last week.

    Edmonton Sun 2010

  • Dewar said Nicholson has been "cagey" but his office promised a response last week.

    Winnipeg Sun 2010

  • When O'Hehir admits that Eagleton is "cagey" about his own beliefs, he glances lightly over a major difficulty: Eagleton affirms Christianity without ever affirming a single concrete proposition connected with it.

    Balderdash 2009

  • When O'Hehir admits that Eagleton is "cagey" about his own beliefs, he glances lightly over a major difficulty: Eagleton affirms Christianity without ever affirming a single concrete proposition connected with it.

    Balderdash 2009

  • The email states Red Cross officials were "cagey" and gave only "roundabout answers" to queries.

    Liblogs.ca latest blog entries 2009

Comments

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  • as in cagey bee

    September 10, 2009