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Glite Dictionary
to finagle

to finagle

4 8.6
Get what you want by tricking people or using clever dishonest methods
  • verb
  • /fɪˈneɪɡl/
  • Informal
translation icon : engañar
  • Now that I'm a full-blown Vista Media Center fanboy, it's no surprise that I was able to finagle my way onto The Media Center Show.
  • finagle your way
  • try to finagle
  • managed to finagle

And you know, as that was, we're trying to finagle that and get it going.

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Examples

  • How did you finagle getting your job?

    Lay the Favorite (2012)

  • Then he'll finagle some more stock, put a couple of his clones on my board of directors, and sooner or later toss me out of my own company.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • I hope we can finagle a way to spend another vacation there before too long.

    Blog text (7)

  • Maybe the defense-heavy spending cuts will now take effect, or maybe Congress will find a way to finagle its way out of them.

    Blog text (26)

  • Do you think some bright school board might finagle a sneaky change in the reading requirements of its high school students—one classic book per term each year?

    Blog text (30)

  • He managed to finagle a free upgrade to first class on the flight.

  • She always knows how to finagle the best deals while shopping.

  • With a little charm, he could finagle his way into any exclusive event.

Synonyms

to trick
vsto finagle
326 3.5

To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want

often aims to obtain results by dishonest or clever methods
to swindle
vsto finagle
20 5.5

To cheat someone and take their money by lying

covers obtaining or achieving by dishonest clever methods not limited to money theft
to fiddle
vsto finagle
  • Informal
5 8.0

To cheat by changing records or numbers to hide facts

focuses on obtaining results by clever methods rather than altering or falsifying
to chisel
vsto finagle
  • Archaic
4 8.9

To cheat someone out of money or things by tricking them

can obtain or achieve things not necessarily taken directly from people
to wangle
vsto finagle
  • UK
1 8.7

To get something by clever or dishonest ways

emphasizes deception and manipulation rather than indirect cleverness
to flim-flam
vsto finagle
  • Archaic
1 9.5

To trick someone by using clever talk

uses clever manipulation to obtain things rather than only talk
to hornswoggle
vsto finagle
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To trick someone to take their money or things

uses clever or manipulative methods to obtain things rather than simple schemes
to flimflam
vsto finagle
  • Archaic
9.6

To trick someone by lying or cheating

relies more on clever manipulation and indirect strategies than blunt deception
to flimflammer
vsto finagle
  • Offensive
9.9

To cheat someone using tricks or fake deals

focuses on obtaining or achieving outcomes not only by taking from people
to chouse
vsto finagle
9.9

To trick someone and take their money or things

is more about getting things via clever methods rather than plain fraud
to fleeche
vsto finagle
  • Archaic
9.9

To trick someone to take their money or goods

is the modern term emphasizing clever manipulation rather than old wording

How Dishonest

to defraud
  • Formal
40 6.9
to cheat
474 1.2
to finagle
  • Informal
4 8.6
to manipulate
382 6.1

Surface Forms

finagle infinitive
finagled past
finagled past participle
finagling present participle
finagles third person singular

Etymology

Finagle probably appeared in American English in the early 1900s and means to get something by clever or dishonest ways. A helpful way to remember finagle is to think of it like fiddle, which can mean 'to cheat' or 'to tinker', so to finagle is to use small, sneaky tricks to obtain what you want.