Jedi mind trick
- noun
- Informal
:
truco mental Jedi
- The salesman used a Jedi mind trick to convince me to buy a car I didn't need.
Examples
-
I know what that feels like, as I've had Jedi mind tricks played on me for years.
Blog text (5) -
What will most likely happen is that Angela Merkel will use Jedi mind tricks on Hollande, and he won't know what hit him!
Blog text (5) -
Chris Gaffney and yours truly say that the Big Boss Frank Trotter plays Jedi mind tricks on us.
Blog text (5) -
In the meeting, she employed a Jedi mind trick to persuade everyone to support her proposal.
-
He joked that his friend's charm was like a Jedi mind trick, making people agree with him easily.
Synonyms
130
5.5
Getting someone to do what you want to help yourself using clever or dishonest actions
45
3.6
Getting someone to do or believe something by giving reasons
15
7.2
A trick people use to confuse or control someone to gain an advantage
9
8.1
Words or actions that trick people by seeming magical
5
4.4
Gentle persuasion using praise or kind words to get someone to do something
3
4.3
Flattering words that try to persuade someone but are not sincere
1
9.9
Getting someone to do or believe something by talking and giving reasons
1
3.9
To convince someone with kind words or calm actions
1
8.4
Gentle praise and kind words used to get someone to do something
A plan to control people by tricking them
Antonyms
How Persuasive
33
7.7
- Informal
130
5.5
45
3.6
759
1.4
24
4.1
229
1.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'Jedi' (known as Star Wars figures associated with mind control) with the literal components 'mind' and 'trick', so a learner who knows these words can infer it means a clever or mental form of manipulation. While it relies on a cultural reference, the semantic composition is direct and predictable from the constituents.
Etymology
Jedi mind trick comes from the Star Wars films, where a Jedi uses a small power in someone's mind to perform a trick and make them do or believe something. So today the phrase means a clever way to 'persuade' or lightly 'manipulate' someone.