crooked
crooked — 形容詞
1. having a shape that is not straight, smooth, or even — for example, a road that
彎曲的
不直、有彎曲形狀的
having a shape that is not straight, smooth, or even — for example, a road that bends left and right, or a picture that is not level on the wall.
The crooked path led through the forest to a small wooden bridge.
那條彎曲的小路穿過森林，通往一座小木橋。
crooked + noun describing physical objects
Léa noticed the painting was crooked and gently straightened it on the wall.
Léa 發現畫掛歪了，就輕輕把它在牆上扶正。
be + crooked in predicative position
The country road was so crooked that drivers slowed down at every bend.
那條鄉間道路非常彎曲，駕駛每到一個彎道都得放慢速度。
Walid drew a crooked line across the page to show where the river flowed.
Walid 在紙上畫了一條彎曲的線，表示河流流過的地方。
The crooked branches of the old apple tree scraped against the window.
那棵老蘋果樹彎曲的樹枝刮到了窗戶上。
- bent
More general than crooked; can describe intentional bending (e.g. a bent paperclip), while crooked often suggests something that should be straight but is not.
- twisted
Stronger than crooked; suggests something has been forced or deformed out of shape, often with spirals or warps.
- winding
Used specifically for roads, paths, and rivers; suggests gentle, continuous curves rather than sharp bends or irregular shapes.
- curved
More neutral and often positive than crooked; describes a smooth, continuous arch or bow shape (e.g. a curved line, a curved bridge).
- straight
The most direct opposite — describes something that continues in one direction without bending.
文法句型
crooked + noun (a crooked line / a crooked path)
be / look / seem + crooked (The picture is crooked.)
用法筆記
Can describe lines, roads, body parts (crooked fingers, a crooked nose, a crooked smile), or objects that should be straight but are not. The comparative form is most commonly 'more crooked', though 'crookeder' is used informally. The opposite is 'straight'.
常見錯誤
2. not honest and willing to lie, cheat, or break the law for personal money or adv
不誠實的
說謊欺騙、行為不正的
not honest and willing to lie, cheat, or break the law for personal money or advantage — for example, a public official who takes secret payments, or a business deal that is designed to trick people.
The reporter spent two years investigating the crooked business deals in the city.
那名記者花了兩年調查市內那些不誠實的商業交易。
crooked + deal / business (attributive use with activities)
Paloma warned her friend not to work for the crooked landlord.
Paloma 警告她的朋友不要為那個不老實的房東工作。
crooked + noun describing a dishonest person
Several crooked officials were sent to prison for taking bribes from companies.
好幾名貪腐官員因收受公司賄賂而被判入獄。
Maeve refused to sign the contract because the whole plan felt crooked and unfair.
Maeve 拒絕在合約上簽字，因為整個方案讓她覺得充滿欺騙、很不公平。
The newspaper called the mayor the most crooked politician the town had ever seen.
報紙稱那名市長是這個小鎮有史以來最不誠實的政治人物。
- dishonest
A more general term than crooked; describes someone who lies or deceives, but not necessarily in a systematic or professional way.
- corrupt
More specific than crooked; describes people in positions of authority who accept bribes or misuse power for personal gain. More formal and common in legal contexts.
- shady
Informal alternative to crooked; describes something suspicious or of doubtful honesty, but the wrongdoing is less certain or clear than with 'crooked'.
- fraudulent
Formal and legal term; describes actions that involve deliberate deception for financial gain, such as fake documents or false claims.
文法句型
crooked + noun referring to a person or activity (a crooked politician / a crooked deal)
be / seem / feel + crooked (The system seems crooked.)
用法筆記
Most commonly used before a noun (attributive position), describing people in positions of power or their actions. Stronger than 'dishonest' — it implies active wrongdoing and a pattern of cheating, not just a one-time failure to be truthful. Often appears in news reports about politics and business scandals.