three card monte
Sidewalk card swindle
Three card monte is a street hustle disguised as a game of chance.
A dealer shows three cards—typically two black cards and a red queen—shuffles them face down, and invites bettors to find the queen.
The game appears simple but is rigged through sleight of hand and confederates in the crowd who pretend to win.
Don't fall for three card monte; nobody beats it.
The phrase extends to any scheme that looks like a fair deal but isn't.
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- short conBrief deception for money
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- street hustleIllicit sidewalk moneymaking
- streetPublic urban roadway
con · swindle · shell game · rigged game · grifter · mark · easy mark · sucker · sucker bet · sleight of hand · nimble fingers · quick hands · trick · bet · fast money · money · dealer · table
- trickerytrick, deceive, mislead, hoax, ruse
- tricksmagic trick, coin trick, rope trick, parlor trick, party trick
- scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
- street consshell game, thimblerig, cups and balls, find the lady, street hustle
- con propsfake ID, fake badge, fake passport, counterfeit money, counterfeit bills
- gambling crimesillegal gambling, illegal casino, match fixing, race fixing, point shaving
three card montestraight dealing
Honest, transparent transactions
square deal · fair game · fair bet · fair trade · level playing field
three, card, monte, cards, carded, carding, thrice, third, thirds