bunco
LowInformal
Definition
Meaning
A swindling game or confidence trick; a fraud.
To cheat or swindle someone, especially in gambling or a confidence game. Can also refer to a type of organized social dice game (Bunco).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has dual usage: 1) Criminal/fraudulent swindle. 2) Name of a lighthearted, social dice game.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American term. In British English, 'swindle', 'con', or 'scam' are more common for the fraud meaning. The dice game is almost exclusively American.
Connotations
In US, the fraud sense has a somewhat old-fashioned, detective-story feel. The game sense is neutral/positive.
Frequency
Very low frequency in UK. Low but recognizable in US, especially for the game.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] buncoed [Object] out of [Sum of money][Subject] got buncoedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bunco artist”
- “bunco squad (police unit)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for a fraudulent deal.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in historical/criminological studies.
Everyday
Most common for the social dice game in US. Fraud sense is understood but not frequent.
Technical
Used in law enforcement (Bunco Squad).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was accused of trying to bunco tourists out of their savings.
- They buncoed the elderly couple with a fake investment.
American English
- The grifter buncoed him for fifty bucks.
- She felt she'd been buncoed into buying the worthless land.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- A bunco operation was uncovered by the police.
- He ran a bunco scheme from his apartment.
American English
- He was a known bunco artist in the city.
- The bunco squad made several arrests.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We play bunco with our friends every month.
- The man lost his money in a street bunco game.
- Her bunco night is on Tuesdays.
- The detective specialized in investigating complex bunco schemes.
- They were buncoed by a smooth-talking salesman selling fake watches.
- The so-called psychic operated a sophisticated bunco, preying on the grieving by claiming to contact the deceased.
- The department's bunco squad successfully dismantled the transnational lottery scam.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BUNCO sounds like 'bunk' (fake/nonsense) + 'O' (like a zero, as in losing everything). A 'bunco' is a fake scheme that leaves you with zero.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A GAME (with rigged rules).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation. Not related to банка (bank/jar). Use 'мошенничество' (swindle) or 'афера' (scam).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the noun (the fraud) with the verb (to cheat).
- Misspelling as 'bunko'. Both spellings are accepted, but 'bunco' is standard for the game.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bunco' MOST likely used positively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are variant spellings for the swindle meaning. However, the organized social dice game is almost always spelled 'Bunco'.
No, it is informal. In formal contexts, use 'fraud', 'swindle', or 'deception'.
Yes, it can. Example: 'He buncoed me out of £20.' It means to swindle or cheat.
It's a social event where people play the dice game Bunco, often in rotating groups. It's typically a lighthearted party game, not gambling.