English edit

Etymology edit

streak +‎ -y

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈstɹiːki/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -iːki

Adjective edit

streaky (comparative streakier, superlative streakiest)

  1. Having streaks.
  2. (cricket) Used to describe a shot where the ball deflects off the edge of the bat, but is not caught by the slips or wicket-keeper and instead results in runs for the batsman.
    • 2001, Luke Alfred, Lifting the Covers: Inside South African Cricket[1]:
      Although the two added thirteen important runs, including four byes let through by Mongia and a streaky outside edge cum late-cut by Pollock for four, one didn't need to be blessed with gifts of insight to realise that Pollock's days at the crease were numbered.
    • 2005, Michael Slater, Slats: The Michael Slater Story:
      ...rather than hitting it with the middle of the bat, I jagged it off the inside edge and French-cut it over the top of the stumps for another four. That was the only streaky shot I can remember.
    • 2011, Roland Perry, Bradman's Invincibles: The Inside Story of the Epic 1948 Ashes Tour[2]:
      Compton troubled Bradman with his Chinaman, and one streaky shot was edged past Crapp at slips.
  3. (chiefly of a person, usually Canada, US) Having alternating periods of good and bad performances; inconsistent.
    Jones has always been a streaky hitter
  4. (archaic, slang) Having periods of irritation or bad temper.
  5. (soccer) Not well-executed, due to luck more than skill.
    • 2015 April 18, Paul Wilson, The Guardian[3]:
      Two goals from Alexis Sánchez, the second a little streakier than the first, were enough to send Arsenal into a second successive FA Cup final, once again following extra time after being held over 90 minutes by a Championship side.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  • John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

Anagrams edit