- [not usually before noun] dubious (about something)/(about doing something)
(of a person 人 not certain about something and suspecting that something may be wrong; not knowing whether something is good or bad 怀疑；无把握；拿不准 I was rather dubious about the whole idea. 我对这整个想法持怀疑态度。 Kate looked dubious, but did as she was asked. 凯特看上去半信半疑，但还是按要求的做了。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- (disapproving)
probably not honest 可疑的；不可信的；靠不住的；不诚实的 They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market. 他们采取了一些极为可疑的商业手段以取得目前在市场上的地位。 The man who sold it to him was known to be of dubious character. 那个卖东西给他的男人出了名的不可靠。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
that you cannot be sure about; that is probably not good 不确定的；不一定好的 They consider the plan to be of dubious benefit to most families. 他们认为这项计划对大多数家庭不一定有好处。 - (ironic)
She had the dubious honour of being the last woman to be hanged in England (= it was not an honour at all). 她成为英格兰最后一个受绞刑的女子，这也算是一种荣幸吧。
Extra ExamplesHe has the dubious distinction of being the world's most famous gangster. 他浪得了世界上最著名的悍匪之名。 some highly dubious information 一些非常不确定的信息
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in sense (2 and 3)): from Latin dubiosus, from dubium ‘a doubt’, neuter of dubius ‘doubtful’.