trick Definition

trick
noun

1. Something which is done or said to cheat, deceive, fool or humiliate someone.

Thesaurus: deceit, wile, fraud, deception, ruse, feint, hoax, artifice, trap, stratagem, double-dealing, subterfuge.
2a. A deceptive appearance, especially one caused by the light; an illusion;


Example: trick photography
3. A mischievous act or plan; a prank or joke.
4a. A clever or skilful act or feat which astonishes, puzzles or amuses;


Example: played a trick shot
5. A peculiar habit or mannerism.

Example: He has a trick of always saying inappropriate things
6. A special technique or knack.

Example: a trick of the trade
7. A feat of skill which can be learned.
8. The cards played in one round of a card game and which are won by one of the players.
9. slang
A prostitute's client.
10. naut.
A period of duty at the helm.

verb tricked, tricking

1. To cheat, deceive or defraud.

Thesaurus: dupe, fool, deceive, mislead, delude, cheat, outwit, gull, bamboozle, hoodwink, pull a fast one on (slang), pull someone's leg (slang).
2. To make them do as one wants, or to gain something from them, by cheating or deception.

Form: trick someone into something
Form: trick someone out of something

Idiom: be up to one's tricks again (be up to one's old tricks (again))

colloq
To be acting in the characteristic, expected or usual way, especially by misbehaving.

Idiom: do the trick

colloq
To do or be what is necessary to achieve the required result.

Idiom: How's tricks?

colloq
A casual greeting that is equivalent to ‘How are things going?'.

Idiom: turn a trick

slang
Said of a prostitute: to have sex with a client.

Etymology: 15c: from Norman French trique.

Phrasal Verb: trick out or up

To dress or decorate in a fancy way.

---

trick or treat
noun

(chiefly N Amer)
1. The children's practice of dressing up on Hallowe'en to call at people's houses for small gifts, threatening to play a trick on them if they are not given one.