trick

Examples

• All

• What a fine trick that will be.

  Dragonslayer (1981)

• Tommy, Halloween night, it's when people play tricks on each other.

  Halloween (1978)

• Cute little trick you just pulled.

  Big Brown Eyes (1936)

• That was a mean trick!

  Lord of the Flies (1963)

• The whole day, my cousins played tricks on each other, beat each other, and cried revenge.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Every year, we have from 40 to 60 trick-or-treaters at our door on Halloween night.

  Blog text (12)

• We played a couple of harmless tricks on her and she kind of freaked out a little.

  The Parent Trap (1998)

• We decided to play a funny trick on our friends for April Fools' Day.

• She pulled a classic trick by hiding behind the door and surprising her little brother.

• Everyone enjoyed the silly trick they performed at the party to make people laugh.

Synonyms

J

joke

vstrick

∞ 1.0

Something said or done to make people laugh

often involves a ludicrous or mischievous action rather than just a funny remark

P

prank

vstrick

• Informal

228 3.2

A playful trick done to make people laugh, often at another person

is often ludicrous or grotesque and not focused on embarrassing others

R

ruse

vstrick

60 7.7

A clever trick to deceive someone

is used for ludicrous, grotesque, or mischievous amusement rather than only deception

P

practical joke

vstrick

40 3.0

A trick played on someone to make others laugh

is broader, including ludicrous or grotesque acts not only to humiliate someone

C

caper

vstrick

• Informal

7 5.3

A playful act done to have fun

often has a more ludicrous or grotesque edge than this light escapade

P

put-on

vstrick

• Informal

4 7.5

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

is often a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun, not primarily to deceive

A

antic

vstrick

1 5.6

Funny, silly actions people do to make others laugh

is broader, often more mischievous rather than only silly spectacle

S

schtik

vstrick

• US

1 9.9

A short funny act that makes people laugh in a show

is a general ludicrous or mischievous act not limited to staged performance

D

dido

vstrick

• Archaic

9.9

A small playful trick someone does to make others laugh

is the common modern word for similar ludicrous or mischievous acts

Idioms

D

to do the trick

• Informal

87 3.7

To get the result you want

T

trick in the book

• Informal

14 4.3

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

E

every trick in the book

• Informal

5 4.6

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

T

to turn a trick

• NSFW

2 9.9

To have sex with a customer for money

T

trick in one's hip pocket

• Informal

8.2

A secret plan kept to use later when you need it

T

trick up (one's) sleeve

• Informal

6.5

A secret plan kept to use as a surprise when needed

Compounds

T

trick or treat

• Baby Talk

107 2.5

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

M

magic trick

44 2.7

A performance that looks impossible and surprises people

T

trick question

22 5.3

A question that tries to confuse you with a surprising answer

C

card trick

14 2.8

A trick that uses playing cards to entertain people

D

dirty trick

12 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

H

hat trick

11 3.7

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

P

parlour trick

• UK

11 6.7

A simple magic trick to amuse people at a small party

O

one-trick pony

• Offensive

5 6.0

A person or thing with only one skill

J

Jedi mind trick

• Informal

4 8.7

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

M

mean trick

• Informal

2 5.4

An action that hurts or deceives someone on purpose

C

conjuring trick

1 4.9

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

C

confidence trick

1 6.6

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

How Mischievous

trick

• Informal

220 1.6

prank

• Informal

228 3.2

gag

103 3.7

Surface Forms

Etymology