dicey

[sardith]

Hey Doc,

I was eavesdropping on a conversation amongst friends on a social media site, and one of them said that things in their life were, 'a little dicey,' and I'd like to know more about that word.

[Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?]

Could you do a column on 'dicey', please.

Thanks,
Sardith

[Audiendus]

Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?

Overhearing?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, dicey (risky or uncertain) alludes to the rolling of dice. It originated as 1940s aviators' jargon.

[Slava]

Btw, it's not really eavesdropping, but I couldn't think of the appropriate word~help?

Overhearing?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, dicey (risky or uncertain) alludes to the rolling of dice. It originated as 1940s aviators' jargon.

I saw that, too, but didn't see how it was used in flying. Why would it originate there, and not in dice games?

As to the other part, I was thinking "spying." Harsh, though.

[sardith]

How about, 'Overseeing', Audiendus.

Or, speyeing...naw.

How 'bout being invited to a partyleyene...like when I was first married we shared the phone with 4 other families...NO privacy!


And the aviators...

I saw that too, Slava, and wondered how the aviators played into the whole story.

Sardith

[Audiendus]

I saw that, too, but didn't see how it was used in flying. Why would it originate there, and not in dice games?

Well, flying in World War II was a risky business. And how would one use 'dicey' in a dice game? Isn't the word essentially figurative?

How about, 'Overseeing', Audiendus.

Possibly, although it usually means 'supervising'. ('Overhearing' is not ideal, but we do talk about 'hearing' from someone when they write to us.)

[Slava]

How's about the neutral "observed"? Or even simply "saw, " as long as we're talking about text.

[sardith]

I like the word 'observed' the best.

[LukeJavan8]

Observed works for me too.

[Perry Lassiter]

Dicey has always seemed to me to have the risky meaning skewed toward failing. Combat pilots get into dicey situations where they may be shot down. Spies find it a bit dicey when their cover may get blown. I'm not positive it's always spelled with the e. Haven't you encounted dicy?

[LukeJavan8]

Dicy? no. But Dicey always seems to me to be somewhat
askew: like spies, CIA, MI1, Bourne Supremacy types.

[Perry Lassiter]

I've also heard it in less serious situations:"Shh, this next card in my house of cards is a bit dicey to install."

[LukeJavan8]

Yes, Precarious, that would fit. Taking skill, expertise.