Cool MateAs crooked as a politician vs Dishonest
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As crooked as a politician
Dishonest
| As crooked as a politician | Dishonest | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əz ˈkrʊkɪd əz ə pəˈlɪtɪʃən//🇺🇸 //əz ˈkrʊkɪd əz ə pəˈlɪtɪʃən// | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈɒnɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈɑːnɪst/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very dishonest or untrustworthy, much like some politicians. | Not truthful or fair; lying or cheating. |
| Example | Everyone knows he is as crooked as a politician when it comes to his business deals. | Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | crooked deals, crooked methods, crooked practices | be, seem, become, deeply, thoroughly, very |
| Antonyms | - | honest, truthful, genuine |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal contexts where idioms are inappropriate., Confusing it with similar phrases like 'straight-laced'. | Confused with 'dishonesty' — 'dishonest' describes the person, while 'dishonesty' is the state of being., Using it in place of 'dishonorable' — they have different meanings., Overusing in casual speech — it can feel harsh in friendly settings. |
| Usage notes | Use this idiom when discussing dishonesty, especially in a light-hearted or humorous context. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'dishonest' to describe someone who is not truthful. It's appropriate in most contexts but may sound strong or formal in casual conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: As crooked as a politician vs Dishonest
What's the difference between As crooked as a politician and Dishonest?
As crooked as a politician: Very dishonest or untrustworthy, much like some politicians. Dishonest: Not truthful or fair; lying or cheating.
Which is more formal: As crooked as a politician and Dishonest?
Dishonest is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: As crooked as a politician and Dishonest?
Dishonest is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
As crooked as a politician: Everyone knows he is as crooked as a politician when it comes to his business deals. Dishonest: Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas.
Can I use As crooked as a politician and Dishonest interchangeably?
Not always. As crooked as a politician and Dishonest are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.