cagey

Related to cagey: crotchety, counterproductive, unequivocally, snide

cagey

Sly or shifty. I just don't trust that guy—he always seems so cagey.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cagey

(ˈkedʒi)
mod. sneaky; shrewd. John is pretty cagey. You have to keep an eye on him.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • pillow-biter
  • (something) blows
  • on one's
  • on someone's
  • (I've) got to go
  • (as) gay as a three-dollar bill
  • (Have you) been OK?
  • a copy
  • out of one's
  • #dead
References in periodicals archive
With five straight home games without a win, the first half was a predictably cagey affair between two mid-table sides.
Some home comfort at long last as Blyth win; NATIONAL NORTH
This could be cagey and no goal Lee Brennan: due to return at 13-2 is worth taking.
Tyrone rumble may open up after break
He envisaged a cagey, tactical affair with the Bulgarian, but believes his replacement - who has been training for weeks whilst on standby for the fight - will make for a much more entertaining occasion to enjoy.
Joshua expects to feel the noise on Cardiff fight night
Spurs have averaged less than a goal a game at their new Wembley home and I expect another cagey affair, with the first goal to be scored in the 61st minute or later at 6/1 looking like value.
TOTTENHAM v LIVERPOOL; BOOKIES v BETTING BOYS; William Hill's Joe Crilly gives his verdict on the weekend's big games, but those fabulous Betting Boys are looking to take him on..and take his money.
In truth, neither side looked more likely to score in a cagey contest, with Ronaldo's shot that set up the goal the first on target in the match.
Quaresma hero as Portugal win it in extra time; CROATIA 0 PORTUGAL 1
0 BOTH teams struggled to get going in a cagey first half, but the home side took the lead in the second half when Lewis Caswell squared for the tireless Jack Lee to slide home a composed finish.
Grangetown
West Brom manager Steve Clarke said: "The first half was a bit too cagey, two good teams feeling each other out.
Steve Baggies a Mersey double
I expect Wolves to be cagey and try to hit Sunderland on the break, but Sunderland should be strong enough to resist that threat and in the end it will come down to whether the striker-less Black Cats can make the breakthrough at the other end.
HUNTER'S VERDICT
After a cagey opening half in which the best of the chances fell to Bradford, the Spireites came out with purpose after the break.
CHESTERFIELD 1 BRADFORD 1
Ronan O'Gara and Dan Parks, Scotland's hero against Ireland at Croke Park last weekend, landed three penalties each in a cagey second period, before de Villiers sealed the home win five minutes from time.
De Villiers is the hero
Hull bantamweight Campbell scored a cagey 4-1 win over Germany's Denis Makarov to reach the final where he will meet experienced Bulgarian Detelin Dalakliev.
Champion bid
The Hull bantamweight scored a cagey 4-1 success over Germany's Denis Makarov to reach tomorrow night's final, in which he will meet experienced Bulgarian Detelin Dalakliev.
Boxing: SPORT SHORTS - Luke on target to be a champion
The 21-year-old got the better of experienced Russian Eduard Abzalimov 3-2 in a cagey affair to guarantee at least a bronze and put him into tomorrow's semifinal showdown against Germany's Denis Makarov.
BOXING: Campbell progress continues
SUBURBANITES are cagey about admitting where they live, a report out today says.
TheWorldTonight: The shame of life in the suburbs..