leery
leery
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of "leery" is: /ˈlɪəɹ.i/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
First syllable (LEER):
/l/ - a voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/ɪ/ - a near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/əɹ/ - a rhotic vowel, a combination of a mid-central vowel and an alveolar approximant (the "r" sound)
Second syllable (Y):
/i/ - a close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Adjective:
"She was leery of the stranger's intentions."
"They were leery about investing in the new startup."
Adverb:
"He looked leery at the offer."
"They eyed each other leery."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Leery (Adjective)
Definition: Suspicious, wary, or cautious about something or someone.
Synonyms: Doubtful, mistrustful, skeptical, apprehensive, hesitant
Antonyms: Trusting, confident, certain, assured, convinced
Example Sentence: She was leery of signing the contract without reading the fine print.
Examples of Use
In Literature:
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Gatsby, having so much money, was leery of people who only wanted his money."
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "Atticus was leery of the town's reaction to his defense of Tom Robinson."
In News Articles:
The New York Times: "Many consumers are leery of online shopping, fearing identity theft."
The Washington Post: "Politicians are leery of taking a stance on controversial issues."
In Online Publications:
The Verge: "Tech enthusiasts are often leery of new, untested software."
BuzzFeed News: "After the data breach, users were leery of sharing personal information online."
In Entertainment:
TV Series (e.g., "Breaking Bad"): "Walter White, a chemistry teacher turned drug lord, was leery of his partner, Jesse Pinkman."
Movies (e.g., "The Godfather"): "Don Corleone was leery of new alliances and potential threats."
In General Public Discourse:
"I'm a bit leery of trying that new restaurant."
"After the recent scandal, investors are leery of the company's stock."
"Many people are leery of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Leery
“I'm always a little leery about doing shows where I'm not the headliner because when I first started playing in 1982 I opened for Missing Persons and got pelted for 45 minutes.” — Al Yankovic
“I had never really wanted to be famous. Everyone is supposed to want to be rich and famous, but as a boy I never knew what rich was, and the first view I had of famous made me leery.” — Alan Alda
“Audiences can be leery of sequels; the studios make a hit, they see dollar signs, and they make a cheap rip-off.” — William Katt
“Be leery of silence. It doesn't mean you won the argument. Often, people are just busy reloading their guns.” — Shannon L. Alder
“I’m leery of legislative solutions to what is morality.” — Lou Gerstner
“I'm very, very leery of nonfiction books where they change timeframes and use—what do they call those things?—composite characters. I don't think that's right.” — Bob Horner
“Just about the entirety of the first album, 'Brown Sugar,' I wrote it, the majority of that record in my bedroom in Richmond. And all of the demos for it were done on a four-track in my bedroom. I think EMI was a little leery of me being in the studio producing it on my own, which is what I was fighting for.” — D'Angelo
“There was no surprise they would feel leery about being injected by anything else he had to offer, considering what they were currently experiencing.” — Jason Medina, The Manhattanville Incident: An Undead Novel
“See I reckon you're about an 8 or a 9, maybe even 9 1/2 in four beers time.” — Mike Skinner
“Be leery of keeping people around that don't keep their word. If they're untrue to their own reputation, they definitely don't care about yours!” — Evonika
Etymology
The word "leery" is a bit tricky to trace back to its exact origins. However, we can look at its history to get a general idea.
It's thought to have come from an older word, possibly related to "leer," which means to look at someone in a sideways, suspicious way. So, when we say someone is "leery," we're saying they're looking at something or someone with suspicion, like they're not quite trusting them.
The first time we see "leery" used in this way was around the early 1700s. People started using it to describe a feeling of caution or doubt, much like how we use it today.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Leery
While "leery" doesn't appear in many common phrases or idioms, we can explore some phrases and idioms that convey similar sentiments of caution, suspicion, or doubt:
To be wary of: This phrase directly expresses caution and suspicion, similar to being leery.
To have one's guard up: This idiom suggests a defensive posture, ready to protect oneself from potential threats, much like a leery person.
To approach with caution: This phrase advises a careful and measured approach, reflecting a leery attitude.
To be on one's guard: Similar to "having one's guard up," this idiom emphasizes a state of alertness and preparedness.
To look askance at: This phrase means to regard someone or something with suspicion or disapproval, a behavior often associated with being leery.
To eye suspiciously: This phrase conveys a direct and overt expression of suspicion, similar to a leery gaze.
To be skeptical of: This phrase implies a doubting or questioning attitude, often associated with being leery.
To take with a grain of salt: This idiom suggests a degree of skepticism or disbelief, which can be seen as a leery approach.
To approach with a pinch of salt: Similar to "taking with a grain of salt," this idiom indicates a cautious and skeptical attitude.
To be a doubting Thomas: This biblical reference describes someone who is skeptical and requires proof, a characteristic often associated with being leery.
While these phrases and idioms may not directly use the word "leery," they capture the essence of caution, suspicion, and doubt that is central to the meaning of the word.
Posts Related to Leery
Source Information
Definition of leery from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
