trick

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noun [countable] British English pronunciation: trick

/trɪk/

singular	trick
plural	tricks

Related dictionary definitions

1
an unfair or unpleasant thing that you do in order to harm someone or to get an advantage for yourself
a dirty/cruel/nasty trick:
It was a very dirty trick to play on anyone.
a dirty tricks campaign:
They had carried out a dirty tricks campaign against a rival airline.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
1. a.
  something that you do in order to annoy someone or to make people laugh at them, often by making them believe something that is not true
  play a trick on someone:
  I thought he was playing a trick on me.
  your eyes are/your memory is playing tricks on you:
  Was it her, or were my eyes playing tricks on me?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
2
a way of entertaining people by doing something that looks like magic
For my next trick, I will make the balls disappear.
do a trick:
He does this great trick with a hat and two rabbits.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
3
something that is not really what it seems to be
Could she really see a boat, or was it just a trick of the light?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
4
an effective and skilful way of doing something
There’s a trick to folding up this umbrella.
the trick is:
If you want to see her, the trick is to go early.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
5
the cards that you play or win in one part of a card game
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick

phrases

a bag/box of tricks
all of the special or secret methods that someone has to help them to achieve something
He’s familiar with all of an actor’s bag of tricks.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
do the trick
to do what is needed in order to achieve something
Her remedy certainly did the trick.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
have a trick of doing something
to have a habit of doing a particular thing
She had a trick of pausing in the middle of sentences.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
have a trick up your sleeve
to have a plan that you can use if you need to
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
how’s tricks?
informal
used when you meet someone to ask how they are
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
the oldest trick in the book
a dishonest method of doing something that you know about because it has been used many times before
Flattery is the oldest trick in the book, so don’t fall for it!
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
show/teach someone a trick or two
used for saying that you know a lot more about something than someone else does
Ted’s been working here for years – he could show most of us a trick or two.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
the tricks of the trade
quick and effective methods used by experienced people in a particular profession
There are a few tricks of the trade which will help you when painting a room.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
try/use every trick in the book
to try or to use every possible method in order to achieve something
He tried every trick in the book to persuade her, but she still said no.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
turn a trick
informal
to have sex with someone for money
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick
up to your old/usual tricks
to be doing the same annoying or bad things that you usually do
I see John is up to his old tricks bossing everyone around.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of trick

showmance

a romantic relationship between two members of the cast of a play, film or television series

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trick

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phrases

a bag/box of tricks

do the trick

have a trick of doing something

have a trick up your sleeve

how’s tricks?

the oldest trick in the book

show/teach someone a trick or two

the tricks of the trade

try/use every trick in the book

turn a trick

up to your old/usual tricks

showmance

Word of the Day

soapstone

human-readable