Term: Sketch(y)

[Parks]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 4:10am

I don't know if this is just a term used in my town (I don't think it is) or if other people know it. Have you all heard the term "sketch" or "sketchy"? I told my friend a few nights ago on the phone that my friends and I were "sketchy" at the park, because we were hanging out there at night. He wasn't familiar with the term and I couldn't find the words to describe it. How would you desrcibe "sketch" to someone?

Updated On: 7/16/06 at 04:10 AM

[BJC899]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 4:12am

Ah I use "sketch" allllll the time.

Sketch and Shady are every-other word out of my mouth.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 11:57am

Growing up in Westchester County (about 30 minutes north of manhattan), I never heard this term. Then when I went to college (Cornell in Ithaca, NY - upstate), "sketchy" was used constantly. I still use it sometimes...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 11:58am

I use it all the time.

Kind of like... creepy or shady, I guess?

[Jilani]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 12:04pm

Check out urbandictionary.com's definitions of these terms:

http://www.urbandictionary.com

I never knew about the drug-related connotations of the word sketchy.

[For some reason, I can't link to the definitions, but just type in the terms at the main website.]

Updated On: 7/16/06 at 12:04 PM

[Marlene]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 12:14pm

Urban dictionary usually seals the deal. I use it quite often, it's my more PC term...before I totally go on trashing a person or place.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 1:42pm

Where I'm from, "sketch" and "sketchy" are used all the time. I had to explain it once to my cousins from Iowa, who had never heard of it.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 1:52pm

WAT, that's funny, I'm from Westchester too and I hear the word all the time...It could be a New Ro thing though.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 2:08pm

It may just be a New Rochelle thing...we never used it in Ardsley.

[mateo]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:06pm

yeh, it just means "shady."

Its a word I have used, but its not a word you hear all the time over here in California.


But then again, California has its own weird lexicon. We all makes up words.


For Example, my new word if something is awesome, cool, fabulous, artisitic, impressive etc... is "Geisha."

and if something is lame, dull,utterly hellacious... I say "Gov."

[Chloe]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:11pm

From Merriam-Webster:

1 : of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined
2 : wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance : SLIGHT, SUPERFICIAL "the details are sketchy"
3 : QUESTIONABLE, IFFY "got into a sketchy situation"

It seems like kids have taken the last definition and run with it.
Updated On: 7/16/06 at 03:11 PM

[erikaamato]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:17pm

Er, I've been using the term "sketchy" my whole life. My parents used it too. It's not new.

[Tag]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 3:27pm

Using 'sketch' is SO sketchy.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 7/16/06 at 4:03pm

Indeed.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 5:14am

yeah, I'm from Cali and "shady" was a more common word than "sketchy" -"sketch" elevated in prevalence once I went to college.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 8:25am

There is certainly nothing new about the use of sketchy, to mean shady.