shell game
Cups and deception
A shell game is a sleight-of-hand swindle where a small ball is hidden under one of three cups or shells, which are shuffled rapidly while the victim tries to track which one conceals the ball.
The operator manipulates the ball to ensure the mark loses.
Figuratively, any deceptive scheme involving misdirection or hidden manipulation: The budget proposal was a shell game—moving costs between departments to hide the real deficit.
Deception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
grift · bunco · confidence trick · mark · pigeon · sucker · patsy · rip-off
Aggressive, unscrupulous earner
- sidewalkPaved pedestrian pathway
- cornerMeeting point of edges
- crowdLarge public gathering
- passerbyOne who walks past
pedestrian · vendor · urban · busker · cardboard box · crate · accomplice · lookout
Intentional focus manipulation
- palmingHiding object in hand
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
prestidigitation · pea · cups · shuffle · switch · tracking · nimbleness · skill
Intentional misleading of others
- hiddenKept out of sight
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- switcherooSlangy sudden reversal
bait and switch · smoke and mirrors · runaround · moving target · evasion · subterfuge · maneuvering
swindle
Deception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
flimflam · grift · bunco · confidence trick · mark · pigeon · sucker · patsy · rip-off · racket
hustler
Aggressive, unscrupulous earner
passerby · pedestrian · vendor · urban · busker · cardboard box · crate · accomplice · lookout · shill
misdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
- palmingHiding object in hand
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
legerdemain · prestidigitation · pea · cups · shuffle · switch · tracking · nimbleness · skill · finesse
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- hiddenKept out of sight
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- concealmentAct of hiding something
switcheroo · bait and switch · smoke and mirrors · runaround · moving target · evasion · subterfuge · maneuvering
- minigamesshooting gallery, tapper, clicker, endless runner, bonus round
- trickerytrick, deceive, mislead, hoax, ruse
- tricksmagic trick, card trick, card tricks, coin trick, rope trick
- fraudscam, fraud, swindle, con, deceive
- conscon, scam, swindle, grift, hustle
- covert tacticssubterfuge, decoy, feint, diversion, misdirection
shell gamefair play
Honorable conduct in games
straight dealing · square deal · good faith · plain dealing · fair dealing
shell gameopen book
One easily understood
full disclosure · transparency · cards on the table · what you see is what you get · plain sight
game, shell, shells, eggshell, seashell, shelled, shelling, sheller, shell-like