shell games
Shuffling cup swindles
A shell game is a sleight-of-hand swindle where a pea or ball is hidden under one of three cups or walnut shells, shuffled quickly, and bettors try to guess its location.
The operator palms the object, making the game unwinnable.
Figuratively, any deceptive scheme involving misdirection: The accounting was a shell game designed to hide losses from investors.
- thimblerigCup-shuffling confidence trick
- flim flamDeceptive nonsense or trickery
- schemesCrafty organized plans
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
wiles · deception · illusion · cup-and-ball · three-card monte · swindle · grifters · false pretenses · bait-and-switch · sucker bet · misdirection · street hustle · rackets · deceptive practices · prestidigitation · charlatans · crosses · confidence artist
- shady dealingsscams, swindles, cons, grifts, fraud
- scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
- gambling crimesillegal gambling, illegal casino, match fixing, race fixing, point shaving
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
shell gamesfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
straight shooting · transparency · good faith · plain dealing · forthrightness
shell gamesfair play
Honorable conduct in games
level playing field · square dealing · square deal · even odds · games of skill
shell gamesstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
laying cards on the table · transparency · telling it like it is · directness · clarity
shell, game, shells, shelled, shelling, shellfish, eggshell, seashell, games