Dodgy
What it really means
Suspicious, unreliable or possibly unsafe. A dodgy area feels unsafe, a dodgy website looks like a scam, and dodgy food might make you ill.
Context, tips & common mistakes
Dodgy is one of the hardest-working words in British English, covering anything from mildly unreliable to actively suspicious: a dodgy kebab (might make you ill), dodgy Wi-Fi (keeps dropping), a dodgy knee (injury-prone), a dodgy area (feels unsafe), a dodgy deal (probably illegal). Context supplies the severity; the word just gestures at 'not to be trusted'.
It is mild enough for almost any conversation, including work. The one deployment to treat carefully: calling a person dodgy is a genuine warning about their honesty — 'he seems a bit dodgy' means keep your distance — so use it about people only when you mean it, and pay attention when someone says it to you about a landlord, seller or new acquaintance.