trick
dishonest or playful deception
An action that makes someone believe something that is not true, often as a joke or to cheat them.
to play a trick on [someone]
- They played a trick on their teacher by switching all the chairs around.
- Sending that fake email was a really dirty trick.
- It was a mean trick to invite her and then not tell her the party was cancelled.
- He fell for an online trick and lost his password.
- The kids love thinking up tricks to scare their older brother.
- The boys played a trick on their friend.
- I did not like his trick. It was not funny.
- She used a trick to make me tell her the secret.
- Be careful. Some people use tricks to get your money.
- That trick was too cruel, and she started to cry.
to deceive or cheat someone
To make someone believe something that is not true, often so that they do something you want.
to trick [someone] into [doing something]
- He tricked me into signing a contract I didn’t understand.
- They were tricked out of their savings by a fake investment company.
- The ad tricks people into thinking the product is healthier than it is.
- She felt tricked when she learned the free trial was actually a paid subscription.
- Scammers often trick older people by pretending to be from the bank.
- He tricked me into giving him my phone number.
- The website tricked many people out of their money.
- I was tricked, and now I am very angry.
- Do not let anyone trick you with a fake story.
- She tricked her brother into doing her homework.
clever method or technique
A smart and useful way to do something so it is easier or better.
a trick for [doing something]
- I know a great trick for remembering people’s names.
- One cooking trick is to add a little sugar to balance the sauce.
- She showed me a few tricks for fixing common computer problems.
- There are some useful tricks to getting a baby to sleep.
- He taught us the tricks of the trade when we started in sales.
- My mother taught me a trick for cutting onions fast.
- Here is a simple trick to help you study new words.
- Do you know any tricks to learn English grammar?
- This is a good trick for cleaning the floor quickly.
- He shared some tricks for saving money every month.
magic or card trick
A magic act that looks impossible, done to make people feel surprised or amazed.
to do a magic trick
- The magician ended his show with an incredible card trick.
- Can you show the kids a magic trick while I make dinner?
- He learned a few simple tricks to perform at the office party.
- Her disappearing coin trick impressed everyone at the table.
- The video reveals how the famous levitation trick really works.
- The man did a magic trick with a coin.
- My uncle knows a card trick and shows it at family parties.
- The children laughed when the clown did a trick.
- I watched a video that teaches an easy magic trick.
- He wants to learn tricks and become a magician.
special skill or party trick
A fun or surprising thing that a person or animal can do, usually to show other people.
to do a trick
- Her party trick is balancing a glass on her head while dancing.
- The dog can do several tricks, including rolling over and playing dead.
- He showed us a cool trick with a pen that seemed to float in the air.
- Learning a few basic tricks made his guitar playing more interesting.
- It’s just a little trick I do to make the kids laugh.
- Our dog knows one trick: he can shake hands.
- She has a funny party trick with a spoon on her nose.
- Can you show us your best trick?
- He learned a new trick to make his baby smile.
- The magician taught the children a simple trick.
thing that achieves the result
Something that works well and gives the result you want.
to do the trick
- Try restarting the computer; that should do the trick.
- A bit of salt usually does the trick if the soup tastes flat.
- In the end, a short email apology did the trick.
- A strong cup of coffee finally did the trick and woke me up.
- If this cleaner doesn’t do the trick, we may need to call a professional.
- Drink some water; that should do the trick.
- This small change did the trick, and the machine worked again.
- A short rest will do the trick when you are tired.
- If this does not do the trick, we can try something else.
- A joke sometimes does the trick and makes people relax.
designed to deceive or mislead
Made in a way that is meant to confuse or fool people.
a trick [question/shot/photograph]
- That was a trick question; there was no correct answer.
- The ad used a trick photograph to make the product look bigger.
- The pool player impressed everyone with a series of trick shots.
- Be careful, some of the exam items are trick questions.
- The movie uses a lot of trick lighting to change the mood of the scenes.
- The teacher asked a trick question to see if we were careful.
- I think that was a trick question, not a real one.
- The picture was a trick photo and did not show the truth.
- Some test questions are trick questions, so read them slowly.
- He made a trick shot and hit three balls with one hit.
weak or unreliable body part
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.
a trick [knee/back/shoulder]
- He has a trick knee that sometimes gives out when he runs.
- My trick back started hurting again after I lifted those boxes.
- Because of her trick shoulder, she avoids heavy bags.
- His trick knee made it hard for him to play basketball.
- A trick back can suddenly spasm without warning.
- My father has a trick knee that sometimes hurts a lot.
- She cannot lift heavy things because of her trick back.
- His trick shoulder hurts when it is cold.
- Be careful with that trick knee when you walk on stairs.
- Her trick back started to hurt after the long car trip.
sex act or client in prostitution
In prostitution, a person who pays for sex, or the sex act with that person.
to turn tricks
- The character in the movie talks about turning tricks to pay her rent.
- He plays a cop who arrests men looking for tricks on the street.
- In that neighborhood, sex workers sometimes wait on the corner for tricks.
- She says she stopped seeing tricks after she got help from a support group.
- The documentary follows a group of women as they meet tricks in a red-light district.
- In the film, the woman says she turns tricks to get money.
- The police try to protect sex workers from dangerous tricks.
- He pays for sex and is called a trick in the story.
- The book talks about her life when she was seeing tricks on the street.
- She says she does not want to see tricks anymore.
- 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.