figurative. The reverse of ‘straight’ in figurative senses (esp. with reference to moral character and conduct); deviating from rectitude or…

Of an action, practice, etc.: dishonest, unfair; not straightforward, underhand; murky, shady, dubious. Occasionally also of a person. Now rare…

Of actions or feelings: Not straightforward and honest; not fair and open; ‘crooked’, deceitful, corrupt. (Also of persons: see direct, adj. 5b.)

= indirect, adj.

Of persons, their actions, etc. Not straightforward and open; underhand, covert, crooked, reserved. Obsolete.

Oblique.

(un-, prefix1 affix 1.)

figurative. Indirect, like a back-handed sword-cut.

figurative. Not direct or straightforward; indirect, irregular, devious, circuitous, crooked: esp. in a moral sense. (In quot. 1801 apparently…

Somewhat twisted or crooked; figurative not straight or plain in character; morally or mentally tortuous.

Oblique, not straightforward. Also, dubious, shifty, disreputable.

Not straightforward, perverse, dishonest.

Of persons: Not straightforward.

Full of twists or turns; characterized by twisting or winding; also figurative dishonest, not straightforward. (Cf. twistical, adj.)

= underhand, adj. 2b.

figurative (cf. crooked, adj. 3). In various slang uses. Dishonest, ‘crooked’, criminal. Also as n. originally U.S.