thimblerig

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups (or thimbles) a pea-sized object has been placed after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery; a shell game.
2. (countable, uncountable) One operating such a game.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To cheat in the thimblerig game.
2. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To cheat (someone) by trickery.

Synonyms

shell game

legerdemain

swindle

conjuration

conjuring trick

cozen

deceive

deception

defraud

delude

diddle

flimflam

gull

illusion

magic

🪄

pup

sleight of hand

thaumaturgy

trick

victimize

fast one

magic trick

beguile

sleightof- hand

bilk

cheat

Translations

Hütchenspiel

εξαπατώ

ταχυδακτυλουργικό παιγνίδι

Pepito paga doble

trilero

trile

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈθɪmbəlɹɪɡ/

Etymology

From thimble + rig.