thimblerig
Cup-shuffling con
Thimblerig is a sleight-of-hand swindle where a pea or ball is hidden under one of three cups or thimbles, shuffled quickly, and spectators bet on which conceals it.
The operator manipulates the object to ensure the mark loses.
By extension, thimblerig describes any shell-game-like deception: The budget proposal thimblerigged funds between accounts to hide the deficit.
Street swindle with cups
- confidence trickFraud exploiting victim's trust
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
grift · flimflam · bunko · scam · hoax · chicanery · dupery · skulduggery
Trick into false belief
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
- dupeDeceive or victim
- beguileCharm into deception
- misleadCause false belief
swindle · trick · con · bilk · fleece · defraud · gull · cozen
Petty fraud perpetrator
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- sharperGambling cheat or swindler
- confidence manFraud who gains trust
flimflammer · cheat · trickster · carny · pitchman · spieler · shill · accomplice
Skillful hand-based illusions
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
nimbleness · finesse · palming · feint · illusion · manual dexterity · quick hands · cups and balls
Stake on uncertainty
- betRisked stake on outcome
- stakesPosts or wagers
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- sucker betWager with terrible odds
proposition bet · house edge · long odds · side bet · betting · mark · pigeon · easy money
shell game
Street swindle with cups
- confidence trickFraud exploiting victim's trust
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
hustle · grift · flimflam · bunko · scam · hoax · chicanery · dupery · skulduggery · racket
hoodwink
Trick into false belief
mislead · swindle · trick · con · bilk · fleece · defraud · gull · cozen · snooker
grifter
Petty fraud perpetrator
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- sharperGambling cheat or swindler
confidence man · flimflammer · cheat · trickster · carny · pitchman · spieler · shill · accomplice · steer
prestidigitation
Skillful hand-based illusions
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
dexterity · nimbleness · finesse · palming · feint · illusion · manual dexterity · quick hands · cups and balls · pass
wager
Stake on uncertainty
sucker bet · proposition bet · house edge · long odds · side bet · betting · mark · pigeon · easy money · take
thimblerigfair play
Honorable conduct in games
square deal · straight shooting · good faith · forthrightness · transparency
rig, thimble, rigged, rigging, rigger, thimbleful, thimbles, riggers