Words / B2

TRIK-ee/ˈtrɪki/

Tricky means difficult to deal with or likely to go wrong: a tricky question; a tricky junction. Difficult is the essay twin; trick is deceive (previous). A tricky junction featured in the driving source. Mix-up: sticky; track. Do not write tricky for “I did not revise”.

Meaning

Difficult to deal with, or likely to go wrong.

Examples

• “A tricky junction featured in the driving source, not a riddle.”
• “A tricky clause in the contract still needs a quoted line, which is the legally-awkward sense.”

Good to know

a tricky + noun; tricky to + verb. Essay twin: difficult / awkward. Noun/verb: trick. Trap: sticky. Driving, law, and exams. Awkward to handle, not an excuse for a blank page.

Near in meaning

awkward

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