trick
An action that makes someone believe something that is not true, often as a joke or to cheat them.
A deliberate act or scheme intended to deceive someone, often as a joke or in order to gain an unfair advantage.
To make someone believe something that is not true, often so that they do something you want.
To deceive someone, especially in order to make them do something or give you something.
A smart and useful way to do something so it is easier or better.
A clever or practical method for doing something more easily or successfully.
A magic act that looks impossible, done to make people feel surprised or amazed.
A magic performance in which something appears to happen in an impossible way, done to entertain people.
A fun or surprising thing that a person or animal can do, usually to show other people.
A special, often amusing skill or action that a person or animal can perform, especially to entertain others.
Something that works well and gives the result you want.
Something that effectively produces the desired result, especially in the fixed phrase "do the trick".
Made in a way that is meant to confuse or fool people.
Designed or intended to deceive, confuse, or test someone, especially by being more difficult or different from what it seems.
Used for a body part, like a knee or back, that sometimes suddenly hurts or does not work well because it is weak or hurt.
Describing a body part that suddenly fails or causes pain, especially because of an old injury, making it unreliable.
In prostitution, a person who pays for sex, or the sex act with that person.
In the context of prostitution, a paying customer or the act of having sex with such a customer.
- Base: trick
- Base: trick
- Plural: tricks
- Base: trick
- 3rd Person Singular: tricks
- Present Participle: tricking
- Past: tricked
bag of tricks
1set of special methods
All the special methods, ideas, or skills that a person can use when needed.
- The coach has a whole bag of tricks for motivating the team.
- When the baby cries, she reaches into her bag of tricks to calm him down.
- Writers often use a bag of tricks to keep readers interested.
do the trick
1to work well enough
To be good enough to fix a problem or to get the result you want.
- If the stain is fresh, a little soap and warm water should do the trick.
- I’m really tired, but a short nap will probably do the trick.
- Adding a bit more salt did the trick and the soup tasted great.
every trick in the book
1all possible methods and tactics
All the different ways of doing something, especially clever or possibly dishonest ways.
- The salesman used every trick in the book to get us to buy the car.
- They tried every trick in the book to fix the computer before calling a technician.
- She used every trick in the book to win the game.
play a trick on [someone]
1to prank or deceive someone
To do something that tricks someone, usually as a joke, sometimes in a mean way.
- The kids decided to play a trick on their dad for April Fools’ Day.
- Don’t play tricks on your sister; she doesn’t like being scared.
- Someone played a trick on me and hid my keys.
the trick is (to)
1main useful method or key
Used to introduce the most important or helpful way to do something.
- The trick is to stay calm and not rush.
- When learning a language, the trick is to practice a little every day.
- The trick is to cut the vegetables very small so they cook quickly.
trick [someone] into [doing something]
1deceive someone to make them act
To make someone do something by lying or not telling them the full truth.
- The company tricked customers into signing up for a paid service.
- He tricked me into opening the door by saying he was a delivery man.
- They tricked her into thinking the meeting was later than it really was.
trick [someone] out of [something]
1deceive someone to take something
To get something from someone by lying to them or cheating them.
- Scammers tricked the old man out of his life savings.
- She was tricked out of her password by a fake website.
- They tried to trick him out of his share of the business.
trick of the light
1misleading visual effect from light
A way that the light makes you see something that is not really there or not how it really is.
- I thought I saw someone at the window, but it was just a trick of the light.
- The strange color on the wall is a trick of the light from the sunset.
- Her eyes seemed to change color, but it was probably a trick of the light.
tricks of the trade
1special methods for a job
The special methods, skills, and small secrets that people use in a particular job or activity.
- After ten years in sales, she knows all the tricks of the trade.
- The chef shared a few tricks of the trade with the cooking class.
- New employees slowly pick up the tricks of the trade from older staff.
turn tricks
1have sex for money (slang)
To work as a prostitute by having sex with people who pay you.
- In the movie, she talks about turning tricks to survive.
- He was shocked to learn that his friend had been turning tricks.
- The article tells the story of a woman who stopped turning tricks and found other work.
up to (one's) old tricks
1returning to bad habits
Doing the same bad or annoying things again that you did in the past.
- He promised he had changed, but he’s up to his old tricks again.
- The cat is up to her old tricks, knocking things off the table.
- Be careful; the company is up to its old tricks with hidden fees.
one-trick pony
1Person or thing with one skill
A person or thing that is good at only one thing, or is known for only one success.
- Critics say the band is a one-trick pony that keeps repeating the same sound.
- Some people thought the band was a one-trick pony, but their second album proved them wrong.
- He doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony, so he’s learning new skills.
- He’s not just a one-trick pony; he can play many different roles.
- The app was successful, but the company can’t rely on that one-trick pony forever.
- If you learn other skills, you won’t be a one-trick pony at work.
trick or treat
1Halloween request for candy
A phrase children say on Halloween when asking for candy while dressed in costumes.
- On Halloween night, children go door-to-door saying 'trick or treat'.
- We bought lots of candy for trick-or-treat night.
trick or treat
2Halloween request for candy
Words that children say on Halloween when they go from house to house asking for candy.
- The children ran from door to door shouting, "Trick or treat!"
- We bought bags of candy for all the kids who come to say "trick or treat."
- On Halloween night, groups of children in costumes go trick or treating.