The word hinky means suspicion or concern about something that seems off. Its origin is debated, but it may have come from Black English slang or been used to describe nervous behavior in detective novels. It is now commonly used to describe any disturbing or worrying behavior.
The word hinky suggests a feeling of suspicion or increased concern, as if something is off, out of place, or just not right. A group of men standing on a street corner wearing masks might be considered strange to a police officer, or a husband’s explanation of her late arrival might seem strange to his spouse. A suspected criminal’s dubious details about her alibi might seem strange to an interrogator. The word is often used to describe any questionable or suspicious turn of events that raises doubts in a person’s mind.
The origin of the word hinky is a matter of debate. Some sources suggest that the modern word hinky is a corruption of a Black English slang word, hincty, popularized in the 1920s. A person described as temperamental would be seen as snobbish or aloof, with a false tone of superiority or putting on airs. It’s possible that the word hincty became corrupted into the more easily pronounceable hinky, though it’s unclear how the original meaning would have shifted from snobbish and arrogant to shifty or out of place. This is one reason why other etymologists believe the two words are not directly related.
Another theory suggests that the word hinky originated as slang for undercover police or organized crime during the 1920s and 1930s. Several detective novels written during that time use the word to describe a circumstance or turn of events that causes nervousness or increased concern. A nervous henchman may start acting nervous or anxious, as if he’s anticipating an imminent attack or police raid. This nervous or creepy behavior is often portrayed as absurd, inspiring the main character to become more alert or watchful. The word has continued to transform and now suggests anything that seems out of control. Often real intuition is so subtle that a person relies more on the instinct he inspires.
As a pop culture saying, many people will use the term to describe any disturbing or worrying behavior. Failure of a car’s brakes could be described as a problem, for example, or a neighbor’s explanation about a noise. Often a sudden or unexpected change in a workplace policy or school routine can be characterized as absurd, especially if the change is not immediately followed by an explanation. Sometimes a series of small questionable events can make a person feel that something strange is going on. When doubts and fears replace trust in any given situation, a feeling of ongoing uncertainty is rarely far away.
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