臭くさい

i-adjective

suspicious; fishy

Figurative use for something that feels dubious or dishonest, as if it has a bad smell. Common with 話, 取引, 事件, or やり方.

• その話はなしはどうも臭くさい。

  That story sounds fishy somehow.

• 彼かれの説せつ明めいには臭くさいところがある。

  There is something suspicious about his explanation.

i-adjective

hammy; over-the-top; cheesy

Used critically for acting, lines, direction, or style that feels exaggerated, theatrical, or embarrassingly affected.

• あの俳はい優ゆうの演えん技ぎは少すこし臭くさい。

  That actor's performance is a bit hammy.

• 最さい後ごのせりふが臭くさすぎて笑わらってしまった。

  The final line was so cheesy that I laughed.

i-adjective

clumsy; unskilled; awkwardly amateurish

A limited evaluative use for something that feels unpolished or awkwardly done; in modern speech, more specific words such as 下手 or ぎこちない are often clearer.

• 新しん人じんの頃ころは、せりふ回まわしがまだ臭くさかった。

  When he was new, his delivery was still awkward and amateurish.

i-adjective

gamey; strong-tasting; overly strong in flavor

Used of food whose smell and flavor are strong, animal-like, fermented, or otherwise hard to ignore. It often implies the taste is too strong, though some people may like it.

• この鹿しか肉にくは少すこし臭くさいけれど、赤あかワインに合あう。

  This venison is a little gamey, but it goes well with red wine.

• 臭くさいチーズが好すきな人ひともいる。

  Some people like strong-smelling cheese.

suffix, i-adjective

smelling of; reeking of

Suffix use after a noun, forming an い-adjective meaning that something smells of that noun. Often negative or blunt: 汗臭い, 酒臭い, カビ臭い.

• 彼かれのシャツは汗あせ臭くさい。

  His shirt smells of sweat.

• 部屋へやがカビ臭くさくなっている。

  The room has started to smell moldy.

suffix, i-adjective

-ish; looking like; smacking of

Suffix use after a noun or stem, forming an い-adjective meaning that something seems to have that quality, often in a negative or dismissive way: 嘘臭い, 子供臭い, 素人臭い.

• その言いい訳わけは嘘うそ臭くさい。

  That excuse sounds fake.

• 彼かれのデザインは少すこし素人しろうと臭くさい。

  His design looks a little amateurish.

• その発はつ言げんは政せい治じ臭くさい。

  That remark smacks of politics.