cagey

/ˈkeɪdʒi/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈedʒi] /ˈkeɪdʒi/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈedʒi] /ˈkā-jē How to pronounce cagey (audio)/ (ame, mw)

cagey — adjective

  • cageypositive
  • cageyercomparative
  • cageyestsuperlative

1. not willing to say much about what you know, plan, or feel when someone asks dir

1.形容詞C1
釋義

not willing to say much about what you know, plan, or feel when someone asks directly

例句

Meera stayed cagey about her summer plans when her cousins kept asking questions.

stay cagey about [topic]

The company was cagey about the price until both sides met in person.

be cagey about [information]

同義詞
  • secretive

    broader and more neutral; can describe a long-term habit of hiding things

  • evasive

    focuses on avoiding a direct answer, especially under questioning

  • tight-lipped

    informal; stresses refusing to talk at all

反義詞
  • open

    describes someone willing to share thoughts or plans freely

  • frank

    describes direct, honest speech without hiding details

文法句型

be/stay/get + cagey + about + noun

grow cagey when + clause

a cagey + answer/smile/reply

用法筆記

Often used when someone is clearly holding back details in conversation. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is about what the person refuses to reveal, not about being strategically careful in a deal or risky situation.

常見錯誤

❌I felt cagey of the stranger at the door.
✅I felt suspicious of the stranger at the door.
💡Use 'cagey' for someone who avoids giving information, not for someone who feels distrust.

2. careful and clever in a way that helps you avoid being tricked, pressured, or tr

2.形容詞C1
釋義

careful and clever in a way that helps you avoid being tricked, pressured, or trapped

例句

Tendai was cagey enough to read every page before signing the contract.

cagey enough to + verb

Ada made a cagey move during the sale and saved a month of rent.

a cagey move in bargaining

同義詞
  • shrewd

    broader and slightly more formal; emphasizes sharp judgment more than guarded behavior

  • canny

    often suggests practical cleverness in money or business matters

  • wary

    stresses alert caution, but not always the clever self-protective side

反義詞
  • gullible

    describes someone too ready to believe or trust

  • naive

    describes someone lacking worldly caution or experience

文法句型

be + cagey + enough + to-infinitive

a cagey + move/decision

be cagey in + negotiation/game/market

用法筆記

Usually describes someone protecting their own position by thinking ahead and not trusting the easiest offer. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on practical caution and clever judgment, even when the person is not being directly questioned.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle is cagey, so he never buys birthday gifts.
✅My uncle is stingy, so he never buys birthday gifts.
💡'Cagey' means cleverly cautious, not unwilling to spend money.