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trick

trick

255 2.3
A clever act that looks like magic and entertains people
  • noun
  • /trɪk/
translation icon : truco
  • For his next trick, the magician made a rabbit disappear from his hat.
  • a magic trick
  • perform a trick
  • a parlor trick

It's really clever and can do tricks with like, a ball.

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Examples

  • More of a trick than actual magic.

  • SAM: Let me show you a trick.

  • And now for my first trick, time travel.

  • - You ever see this trick before?

  • All right, so let's do the old trick again and see if it works.

  • -Do you want to see a trick?

  • Why don't you practice that party trick of yours?

  • And all the kids would love to get tickets to see him perform tricks, jump the plane circled.

  • One observer complained that "colors perform strange tricks at the most unexpected times and for no apparent good reason."

    Academic text (1998)
  • Here's Janine Driver explaining this body language trick that I want you to steal.

Synonyms

magic
vstrick
3.2

Power that makes impossible things happen, often in stories or rituals

is a clever deceptive act meant to entertain rather than real supernatural power
ruse
vstrick
53 7.7

A clever trick to deceive someone

is usually an entertaining deceptive act rather than a deliberate secret scheme
illusion
vstrick
52 4.2

A magic trick that makes something look impossible

is a clever entertaining act rather than only a sensory deception
magic trick
vstrick
29 2.7

A performance that looks impossible and surprises people

is broader, covering any clever deceptive act beyond staged performances
trickery
vstrick
27 4.9

To use dishonest ways to cheat people

is a clever entertaining act and not necessarily dishonest or harmful
artifice
vstrick
  • Formal
11 8.1

A clever trick that deceives people or hides the truth

is the entertaining deceptive act rather than a strategic ploy for gain
card trick
vstrick
9 2.8

A trick that uses playing cards to entertain people

is any clever deceptive act not limited to object specific displays
hocus-pocus
vstrick
9 8.1

Words or actions that trick people by seeming magical

is the clever entertaining act that creates wonder rather than mere words
deception
vstrick
6 4.3

A trick that makes something look like real magic

is the clever entertaining performance that aims to amaze rather than only mislead
put-on
vstrick
  • Informal
4 7.5

A false act or story that tries to trick people, often to make them laugh

is a clever deceptive act that can be serious, not only playful hoaxes
3 9.9

A performance using quick, skilled hand movements to do magic tricks

is the broader clever act, not only hand skill demonstrations
parlour trick
vstrick
  • UK
3 6.7

A simple magic trick to amuse people at a small party

is the wider clever act, not only small social amusements
legerdemain
vstrick
  • Formal
2 9.9

A skill of quick hand tricks to fool people, like a magician

is the general deceptive act that may use many different methods
conjuring trick
vstrick
1 4.9

A magic trick that seems to break natural rules to surprise and amuse people

is the general clever act not limited to staged magician shows
conjuration
vstrick
1 9.9

A trick that looks like real magic and amazes people

is a clever entertaining act, not just a mysterious phenomenon
jugglery
vstrick
  • Archaic
9.9

Tricky or dishonest actions used to confuse people and gain advantage

is the playful deceptive performance rather than calculated manipulative scheming

Idioms

to do the trick
  • Informal
80 3.7

To get the result you want

13 4.3

A clever or dishonest way people use to get something they want

11 9.9

To have sex with a customer for money

4 6.5

A secret plan kept to use as a surprise when needed

3 4.6

All possible methods someone uses to get something, often using clever or dishonest actions

A secret plan kept to use later when you need it

Compounds

29 2.7

A performance that looks impossible and surprises people

A question that tries to confuse you with a surprising answer

11 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

9 2.8

A trick that uses playing cards to entertain people

9 3.7

Three scores by one player in the same game, for example three goals

trick or treat
  • Baby Talk
8 2.5

An activity where children go from house to house asking for sweets on Halloween

one-trick pony
  • Offensive
4 6.0

A person or thing with only one skill

3 6.7

A simple magic trick to amuse people at a small party

mean trick
  • Informal
1 5.4

An action that hurts or deceives someone on purpose

A dishonest plan to gain someone's trust and then take their money or things

A magic trick that seems to break natural rules to surprise and amuse people

Jedi mind trick
  • Informal
8.7

A clever, hidden way to persuade someone by making them think or feel differently

How Magical

conjuring
  • Literature
7 8.8
trick
255 2.3
illusion
52 4.2
spectacle
68 4.2

Surface Forms

trick singular
tricks plural

Etymology

Trick originally meant a clever 'move', which helps you remember a magic trick where the performer uses a quick action to create an illusion. That's why a trick is a clever or deceptive act used to amaze people.