crooked
verbadjectivecommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//kɹɵkt//
- United Kingdom//kɹɵkɪd//
- United States//kɹʊkɪd//
- Australia//kɹʊkt//
- Australia//kɹʊkəd//
- Scotland//kɾʉkt//
Not straight; having one or more bends or angles.
verb
- 1
Also a form of crooksimple past and past participle of crook
Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
adjective
- 1
Not straight; having one or more bends or angles.
We walked up the crooked path to the top of the hill.
- 2
Set at an angle; not vertical or square.
That picture is crooked - could you straighten it up for me?
- 3
figurativeDishonest or illegal; corrupt.
He was trying to interest me in another one of his crooked deals.
He's so crooked that everyone avoids interacting with him as much as they can help it.
During the height of Italian immigration in the United States and in New York City, gangs flourished not only because of poverty but also because of political and social corruption. Policemen and politicians were often as crooked as the gang leaders themselves.
- 4
ill-tempered; grumpy; cranky.
I wouldn't try to talk to him just now, b'y! He's some crooked today!
Etymology
From Middle English croked, crokid, past participle of croken (“to crook, bend”). Cognate with Danish kroget (“crooked”). More at crook.
Forms
- comparative
- more crooked
- superlative
- most crooked
crooked · Not straight; having one or more bends or angles.
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