trick
15 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
tricks
plural
tricks
Britannica Dictionary definition of TRICK
[count]
1
:
an action that is meant to deceive someone
—
see also dirty tricks
-
It was a trick to persuade her to give him money.
-
That was a dirty/mean/rotten trick. [=an unkind or unfair thing to do]
2
:
something done to surprise or confuse someone and to make other people laugh
-
He played a trick on me. [=he tricked me]
-
She enjoys playing tricks on her friends.
3
:
a clever and skillful action that someone performs to entertain or amuse people
-
For his last trick, the magician made a rabbit disappear.
-
magic/card/circus tricks
4
:
a clever and effective way of doing something
-
I know a good trick for removing stains from clothes.
-
He knows a lot of useful programming tricks.
-
a handy trick for remembering names
-
He has a lot of experience with gardening, so he should be able to show/teach us a trick or two. [=he should be able to give us good advice about gardening]
5
:
something that causes confusion or that makes something seem different from what it actually is
-
He was so tired his mind was playing tricks on him. [=he could not think clearly]
-
The paint looked blue, but it was just a trick of the light. [=the light made the paint appear blue even though it was a different color]
6
:
the cards that are played in one round of a card game
-
She has won the last three tricks.
7
US, informal
:
a sex act performed by a prostitute
-
She was living on the street and turning tricks [=taking money for sex] to survive.
do the trick
informal
:
to produce a desired result
:
to solve a problem
-
One small adjustment will do the trick.
every trick in the book
◊ If you try every trick in the book, you do everything you can to achieve something.
-
They'll use every trick in the book to get you to buy their products.
-
He tried every trick in the book [=he tried every method he knew] to get the car started, but nothing worked.
never/not miss a trick
informal
:
to notice everything
:
to always know what is happening
-
He never misses a trick.
trick of the/your trade
up to your (old) tricks
informal
◊ If you are up to your (old) tricks, you are doing the kind of dishonest things that you have done in the past.
you can't teach an old dog new tricks
—
see also hat trick, trick or treat
2
trick
/ˈtrɪk/
verb
tricks;
tricked;
tricking
2
trick
/ˈtrɪk/
verb
tricks;
tricked;
tricking
Britannica Dictionary definition of TRICK
[+ object]
:
to deceive (someone)
-
He tricked her by wearing a disguise.
trick into
[phrasal verb]
trick (someone or something) into (something)
:
to use a trick to make (someone or something) do (something)
-
He was tricked into buying the car. [=he bought the car because he was deceived]
trick out
[phrasal verb]
1
trick (someone) out
:
to dress (someone or yourself) in an unusual way
— usually + in
-
She was tricked out in a horrible, brightly colored costume.
2
trick (something) out
or
trick out (something)
:
to decorate (something)
— usually + with
-
The room was tricked out with ribbons and streamers.
trick out of
[phrasal verb]
trick (someone) out of (something)
:
to use a trick to get (something) from (someone)
-
She was tricked out of [=cheated out of] her savings.
3
trick
/ˈtrɪk/
adjective
3
trick
/ˈtrɪk/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of TRICK
always used before a noun
1
:
using methods that are meant to deceive someone
-
trick photography [=photography that uses special methods to make things that are not real seem to be real]
-
a trick question [=a deceptive question that is intended to make you give an answer that is not correct or that causes trouble for you]
2
:
done in a clever or entertaining way
-
a trick shot in pool
3
US
:
weak and tending to fail suddenly
-
He has a trick knee.
