English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Initially US colloquial, of unknown origin.[1][2] A connection with the behavior of caged prisoners (wary and closed-lipped) and caged animals (wary) has been speculated. If correct, then equivalent to cage +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkeɪd͡ʒi/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪdʒi

Adjective

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cagey (comparative cagier, superlative cagiest)

  1. Wary, careful, shrewd.
    • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Omega (Samara: The Ardat-Yakshi):
      Samara: I will be in the shadows watching, Shepard. You will never be alone -- this I swear. But you cannot barge in with guns and allies.
      Samara: Morinth is far too cagey -- she'd simply disappear. This is a subtle, delicate act. Trust me.
    • 2011 February 6, Alistair Magowan, “West Ham 0 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC[1]:
      But with both sides in the Premier League's bottom three before the game began, the three points at stake made for a cagey match.
  2. Uncommunicative; unwilling or hesitant to give information.
    Synonyms: evasive, reticent, shy
    • 2015 October 7, Alan Yuhas, “JFK: declassified documents reveal a cunning and cagey president”, in The Guardian[2]:
      John F Kennedy’s secret talks with Soviet intelligence, surreptitious tape recordings and “girlfriend system” create a new portrait of a cunning and cagey JFK, according to a historian who has researched a treasure trove of recently released recordings and papers of the late president.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References

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  1. ^ cagey”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “cagey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.