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Glite Dictionary
take-in

take-in

7.7
A trick that cheats someone out of money or goods
  • noun
  • /ˈteɪkˌɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : engaño
  • He never suspected the whole business deal was just a take-in.

Examples

  • That was a clever take-in!

  • The scheme turned out to be a clever take-in that fooled dozens of people.

  • After realizing it was a take-in, she reported the scam to the authorities.

  • The magician's trick was a real take-in for the audience.

  • The con artist's latest take-in left many investors feeling betrayed after losing their savings.

  • She was the victim of a clever take-in that promised riches but only resulted in losses.

  • His elaborate scheme was a classic take-in that fooled everyone into believing they would profit.

Synonyms

trickery
vstake-in
27 4.9

To use dishonest ways to cheat people

is one act of deception rather than a general method
dirty trick
vstake-in
11 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

is a deceptive act that may not aim to harm but just cheat
suckering
vstake-in
  • Informal
8.3

Cheating people to get their money or an advantage

is a deceptive act not limited to gaining money

Antonyms

truth
∞ 1.0

A fact that shows how things really are

honesty
365 1.0

Being truthful and fair in what you say and do

How Serious

fraud
577 4.0
swindle
10 7.0
take-in
  • Informal
7.7
trick
458 3.0

Surface Forms

take-in singular
take-ins plural

Morphology

take-in = take + in (opaque) = take + in

Although the form can be segmented as 'take' + 'in', the noun meaning 'a swindle' is idiomatic and not directly predictable from those parts.

Etymology

Take-in comes from the simple parts take and in, where take in can mean 'to bring inside' or 'to accept as true'. A helpful way to remember it is that a take-in 'takes someone in' by pulling them into a false story, so it means a trick or swindle.