Sketchy means incomplete, like a rough drawing: a sketch is a quick outline. The details are still sketchy means we don't know much yet. In casual American English it also means suspicious or unsafe: a sketchy offer, a sketchy bridge, a sketchy part of town.
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sketchy information / details; a sketchy offer; seem sketchy
- The details are still sketchy, so we cannot reconstruct the whole journey.
- The rental offer seemed sketchy because the address did not exist.
- We took the main road because the narrow bridge looked sketchy.
What changed
First versionThe information about the route is sketch.
RevisionThe information about the route is sketchy.
Sketch is a noun meaning a rough drawing, and it's easy to use it in place of the adjective. But information is described with the adjective sketchy: the information is sketchy.
Vague means unclear: there may be plenty of information, but it's fuzzy. Sketchy means there's little detail. Shady means dishonest: a shady deal, while sketchy in conversation means suspicious and a bit dangerous.
Your turn
We only know a few facts, so the information is still ___.
Show the answer
sketchy — Only a few facts are known, so the information is incomplete: sketchy. Sketch is a noun and doesn't work as an adjective.
Describe a trip or event you still know little about, and say what's missing.
The travel plan is still sketchy because we have not chosen the return date.
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