trick

An action meant to make someone believe something untrue, sometimes for fun.

• It was just a trick.
• The magician showed us a card trick.
• Someone played a cruel trick on him.

How to use it: play a trick on someone (They played a trick on their teacher.)

Similar words: deception, prank

Common phrases: play a trick, magic trick, trick someone plays

A special, clever action that someone or an animal can perform.

• My dog can do tricks.
• She learned a new trick on her skateboard.
• He knows some impressive tricks with a computer.

Similar words: feat

Common phrases: do a trick, teach a trick, skateboard trick

A clever or easy way to do something or solve a problem.

• Here is a useful trick.
• The trick is to add the flour slowly.
• A little oil should do the trick.

How to use it: the trick to doing something (The trick to growing these plants is regular watering.); the trick is to do something (The trick is to keep the mixture cold.)

Similar words: technique, method, tip

Common phrases: trick to something, useful trick, do the trick

Something a performer does that seems impossible, such as making an object disappear.

• The magician showed us a trick.
• Her card tricks amazed the children.
• Can you explain how that trick works?

Similar words: illusion

Common phrases: magic trick, perform a trick, card trick

A difficult movement that someone performs to entertain people or show their skill.

• My dog can do a trick.
• She learned several tricks on her bike.
• He fell while trying a new skateboard trick.

Similar words: stunt

Common phrases: skateboard trick, do a trick, learn a trick

To make someone believe something false, often so they will do what you want.

• You can't trick me.
• He tricked us into believing his story.
• Someone tried to trick her out of her money.

How to use it: trick someone into doing something (They tricked him into giving them his password.); trick someone out of something (The caller tricked her out of her savings.)

Similar words: fool, deceive, dupe

Common phrases: trick someone, trick someone into something

Made or arranged to fool people or hide how something really works.

• Was that a trick question?
• The film uses trick photography to make people appear tiny.
• A trick mirror made his legs look strangely short.

Similar words: deceptive

Common phrases: trick question, trick photography, trick mirror

Trained to do special movements that entertain people.

• They watched a trick pony.
• The trick dog bowed to the audience.
• She trained trick horses for the circus.

Common phrases: trick pony, trick horse, trick dog