INDEX:
1. to think that someone has done something wrong
2. when something makes you suspect someone
3. someone who is suspected of doing something wrong
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ ACCUSE
↑ CRIME
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1. to think that someone has done something wrong
▷ suspect /səˈspekt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to think that someone is probably guilty of something illegal or dishonest :
▪ Act naturally and no one will suspect you.
suspect somebody of (doing) something
▪ He had suspected her of lying for some time.
▪ Both men had originally been suspected of Brown’s murder.
suspect murder/foul play
suspect that there has been a murder
▪ A man has been found dead in his home and the police suspect foul play.
suspected [adjective only before noun]
▪ The police or social services will investigate any suspected case of child abuse.
▪ Six people were killed in a suspected arson attack on a hotel.
▷ suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/ [adjective]
thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without being sure :
▪ I started to get suspicious when I found a hotel bill in Sarah’s pocket.
suspicious of
▪ The police were suspicious of Simpson because his story did not quite make sense.
suspicious about
▪ His employer became suspicious about the amount of money he was claiming for expenses.
suspicious mind
▪ You have a very suspicious mind, Mary. No, I had nothing to do with this.
▷ suspicion /səˈspɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a feeling that someone is probably guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest :
▪ I had no solid evidence, only vague suspicions.
suspicion of
▪ She had always had a deep suspicion of journalists and reporters.
deep suspicion
▪ ‘What’s that behind your back?’, Maria said with a look of deep suspicion.
arouse/cause suspicion
make people suspect you
▪ The money was taken out of the bank in small amounts so as not to arouse suspicion.
on suspicion of murder/theft etc
because the police suspect you are guilty of murder etc
▪ He’s been arrested on suspicion of murder.
▷ have a sneaking suspicion /hæv ə ˌsniːkɪŋ səˈspɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to have a slight feeling that someone has done something wrong, without having any definite information :
have a sneaking suspicion that
▪ I had a sneaking suspicion that my agent was not telling me the truth.
▷ have your suspicions /ˌhæv jɔːʳ səˈspɪʃ ə nz/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to think you probably know who did something wrong :
▪ I don’t know for definite who stole the money, but I have my suspicions.
▷ smell a rat /ˌsmel ə ˈræt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to guess that someone is doing something bad or dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is :
▪ We started to smell a rat when they asked for an extra £500 deposit.
2. when something makes you suspect someone
▷ suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/ [adjective]
▪ We thought his behaviour was suspicious and called the police immediately.
▪ There was a suspicious silence as I opened the door.
▪ The public have been asked to report anything suspicious at once.
in suspicious circumstances
▪ A full murder inquiry was launched after the company chairman died in suspicious circumstances.
suspiciously [adverb]
▪ A man was seen acting suspiciously just before the break-in.
▪ Anyone offered suspiciously cheap goods should contact the police.
▷ fishy /ˈfɪʃi/ [adjective not before noun] informal
something that is fishy or sounds fishy makes you suspect that something bad or dishonest is being done :
▪ Frank said there was nothing to worry about, but it all sounded very fishy to me.
▪ There’s something fishy about this business, if you ask me.
▷ shady also dodgy British informal /ˈʃeɪdi, ˈdɒdʒiǁˈdɑː-/ [adjective]
shady deals and other activities seem to have something dishonest or illegal about them. A shady person is someone who seems likely to be involved in dishonest or illegal activities :
▪ We’d suspected for a while she was involved in something a bit shady.
▪ He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the City.
▪ His acceptance of a huge loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.
3. someone who is suspected of doing something wrong
▷ suspect /ˈsʌspekt/ [countable noun]
someone who the police believe may have done something illegal :
▪ The police now have another name to add to their list of suspects.
prime/chief suspect
the person that the police suspect more than anyone else
▪ A 32-year-old man from London is the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
murder/rape etc suspect
a person suspected of a particular crime
▪ The murder suspect is in custody and will be charged soon.
▷ suspected /səˈspektɪd, səˈspektəd/ [adjective only before noun]
suspected criminal/terrorist/ spy etc
someone who the police or government believe is a criminal :
▪ He was attacked at his home after confronting a suspected burglar.
▪ They have succeeded in bringing many suspected terrorists to justice.
▪ All opponents or suspected opponents of the military government are being detained.
▷ be under suspicion /biː ˌʌndəʳ səˈspɪʃ ə n/ [verb phrase]
if someone is under suspicion, people believe they may have done something illegal or dishonest :
▪ Crates of whisky have been disappearing from the warehouse and a member of staff is under suspicion.