dicky
Translation
unwell, unreliable, faulty
Examples
I've got a dicky tummy today.
I have an upset stomach today.
The car has a dicky engine.
The car has an unreliable engine.
Grammar Patterns
((a dicky sth.)) an unwell or unreliable (sth.) I have a dicky heart.
Similar Words
Synonyms: unwell, poorly, unreliable, faulty
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly from the rhyming slang 'dicky dirt' for 'shirt', or from the diminutive of Richard, implying something weak or inferior.
Memory Tips
If something is 'dicky', it's being tricky and not working properly. It's more common in British English.