sharpish

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
English sharp
Proto-Indo-European *-iskos
Proto-Germanic *-iskaz
Proto-West Germanic *-isk
Old English -isċ
Middle English -isch
English -ish
English sharpish

    From sharp + -ish.

    Pronunciation

    • Audio (Southern England):(file)

    Adjective

    sharpish (not comparable)

    1. (informal) Somewhat sharp (sudden, abrupt).
      The car made a sharpish turn.
      • 1960 March, G. Freeman Allen, “Europe's most luxurious express - the "Settebello"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 144:
        On straights speed would quicken to what was apparently the maximum allowed on this stretch, 140 k.p.h., or 87.5 m.p.h., and then one would see the track disappearing ahead round a sharpish curve, for there are some of 35 and 40 chains' radius on this side of the summit as well.
    2. (informal) Somewhat sharp; not blunt.
      a sharpish knife

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Adverb

    sharpish (not comparable)

    1. (informal) Rapidly, soon.
      You'd better mend your ways sharpish!
      • 2004, David Mitchell, “Letters From Zedelghem”, in Cloud Atlas, →ISBN, page 47:
        Packed my valise sharpish, afraid the ship might sail back to England with me still aboard; or rather, afraid of my letting this happen.
        Written in the voice of a fictional character living in 1931.
      • 2010, Gary Owen, Love Steals Us from Loneliness, London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →DOI, →ISBN, page 12:
        Catrin: Don’t fuckin’ look at me you perv…
        He turns back, sharpish.
        Scott: Sorry.
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