con game

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Explanation of "Con Game"

Definition: A "con game" is a type of trick or scam where someone deceives another person to gain money or something valuable. This often involves cheating at gambling or convincing someone to buy something that is not real or worthless.

Usage Instructions:

• The term "con game" is often used in informal conversations.
• It can refer to any kind of deception, but it is especially connected to gambling or fraudulent sales.

Example Sentence:

• "He was caught in a con game where he lost all his money to a fake poker player."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex discussions, you might encounter the term in contexts involving psychology or criminal behavior, where it can refer to the methods used by con artists to manipulate their victims.

Word Variants:

• Con artist: A person who performs a con game or engages in deception for personal gain.
• Con job: Another term for a trick or scam.
• Con: A shorter form of "con game," often used as a verb to mean to deceive someone.

Different Meanings:

While "con game" primarily refers to a scam, the word "con" itself can also mean to persuade someone to do something by lying or deceiving them.

Synonyms:

• Scam
• Fraud
• Swindle
• Rip-off

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Pull a con": To execute a con game or trick someone.

  • Example: "She pulled a con on him, claiming she had a winning lottery ticket."

• "Con someone out of something": To trick someone into giving you something valuable.

  • Example: "The fake charity con artist conned people out of their donations."

Summary:

A "con game" is a clever trick designed to cheat someone, often in gambling or selling fake items.

Academic

Noun

1. a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property