From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtricktrick1 /trɪk/ ●●● S3 noun [countable] 1 something that deceives somebodyTRICK/DECEIVE something you do in order to deceive someone Pretending he doesn’t remember is an old trick of his. He didn’t really lose his wallet – that’s just a trick.2 jokeJOKE something you do to surprise someone and to make other people laugh I’m getting tired of your silly tricks. The girls were playing tricks on their teacher.3 something that makes things appear different something that makes things appear to be different from the way they really are After walking for hours in the hot sun, his mind began playing tricks on him. At first he thought someone was coming towards him, but it was just a trick of the light.4 → a dirty/rotten/mean trick5 → do the trick6 magicDG a skilful set of actions that seem like magic, done to entertain people My uncle was always showing me card tricks when I was a kid. a magic trick7 clever methodSUCCEED IN DOING something a way of doing something that works very well but may not be easy to notice The trick is to bend your knees as you catch the ball. a salesman who knew all the tricks of the trade (=clever methods used in a particular job) 8 → use/try every trick in the book9 → teach/show somebody a trick or two10 → somebody is up to their (old) tricks11 DGCcards the cards played or won in one part of a game of cards He won the first three tricks easily.12 → have a trick of doing something13 → never miss a trick14 → how’s tricks?15 sex American English old-fashioned informalSYSEX/HAVE SEX WITH someone who pays a prostitute to have sexturn a trick (=to have sex with someone for money) → confidence trick, → dirty trick at dirty1(6), → you can’t teach an old dog new tricks at teach(7), → hat trick
Examples from the Corpus
trick• He pretended to be sick as a trick to get her to visit him.• Don't send her any money - it might be a trick.• It's hard to do a trick like this in front of so many people.• He refused to answer, suspecting they were asking him a trick question.• The pregnancy was just a trick to get him to marry her.• In college, I learned a trick to remember names.• But he was a trick, Chesarynth, and I am not.• It was a trick that always made her family roar with laughter.• John would sometimes perform card tricks for his buddies.• For my final trick, I will make this elephant disappear.• Helen sat on the bed, clapping while her brother did magic tricks.• It was no teaching or learning of a special trick of composition.• If your problems are straight forward, this low-cost solution may do the trick.• She didn't somehow think a stitch cutter would do the trick quite so well!• The trick is to make representatives more responsible or to put in place automatic restraints on spending.• She hoped he would give up this trick as he grew older.playing tricks• He's always playing tricks on people.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Were his eyes playing tricks on him?• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• He knew, too, that his head had been aching and that his mind was capable of playing tricks upon him.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.playing tricks on• He's always playing tricks on people.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Were his eyes playing tricks on him?• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• Or was it just the swirling mist playing tricks on his eyes?• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.magic trick• David Blaine's dazzling magic tricks..• The party bags can contain one or two little magic tricks or puzzles.• This is an old magic trick which entails some preparation.• He performs magic tricks and is everything that three women want.• I used to practice magic tricks.the tricks of the trade• Being a master gardener isn't just knowing the tricks of the trade.• Teacher preparation, would then be mainly an initiation, learning the tricks of the trade from the old campaigners.• Robert Woods reveals some of the tricks of the trade.• And now he is teaching his son the tricks of the trade.turn a trick• She loves the Poet, and will do anything to please him, including turning tricks for a variety of kinky characters.tricktrick2 ●●● S3 verb [transitive] 1 TRICK/DECEIVECHEATto deceive someone in order to get something from them or to make them do something She knew she’d been tricked, but it was too late.trick somebody into doing something He claimed he was tricked into carrying drugs.trick somebody out of something The corporation was tricked out of $20 million.trick your way into/past/onto etc something He tricked his way into her home by pretending to be a policeman.2 → be tricked out with/in something→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
trick• Does Dave know that Bob and l tricked?• Guglielmo and Ferrando reappear without their disguises, and the girls become aware that they have been tricked.• I realized then that I had been tricked, but it was too late.• Dynamius tried to lock them out of the city, but he was tricked by Gundulf.• A man posing as an insurance agent tricked her out of thousands of dollars.• The old man's sons had tricked him into signing the papers.• You tricked me!• He's the one who originally tricked the first human couple to disobey the Maker's instructions.• This is called an optical illusion, which means that your eyes trick you into seeing something that is not really there.• I'm not trying to trick you - just answer the question.trick somebody into doing something• She was tricked into signing the paper.tricktrick3 adjective 1 → trick photography2 → a trick question3 → a trick knee/ankle/shoulder etcExamples from the Corpus
trick• Gadget Bob and his staff send in trick plays more often than the Harlem Globetrotters.• But the truth is that these are trick questions-because each of them asks which is best for you.• Mitchell was doing trick shots over his shoulder.Origin trick1 (1400-1500) Old North French trique, from trikier “to deceive, cheat”, from Old French trichier 