con man
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
A person who cheats or tricks others by gaining their trust and then deceiving them for money or other benefits.
A person who operates through persuasion, manipulation, or charm to orchestrate a confidence trick (scam). The term can also be applied metaphorically to someone who is habitually dishonest in relationships or business.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a degree of skill, planning, and psychological manipulation, not just simple theft. Often associated with a charismatic or persuasive personality. The longer form 'confidence man' is formal/dated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The clipped form 'con man' is standard in both; 'con artist' is equally common.
Connotations
Identical connotations of calculated deceit.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[con man] + [verb: targets/fleeces/scams] + [victim/group][victim] + [verb: was duped/robbed] + [by] + [con man]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A con man is always on the grift.”
- “You can't con an honest man. (proverb)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts of fraud, investment scams, or fake business proposals.
Academic
Rare; might appear in criminology, sociology, or psychology papers studying fraud.
Everyday
Common in news reports about scams or personal stories of betrayal.
Technical
Not a technical legal term (cf. 'defendant', 'perpetrator of fraud').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tried to con his way into the exclusive club.
- She was conned out of her life savings.
American English
- He conned investors with a fake tech startup.
- Don't let him con you with that sob story.
adverb
British English
- He operated con-man style.
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- He smiled con-man slyly.
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- He used classic con-man tactics.
- She has a con-man charm about her.
American English
- It was a con-man scheme through and through.
- He gave a con-man smile.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man was not a friend; he was a con man.
- She lost money to a con man.
- The police arrested a famous con man who tricked elderly people.
- He seemed nice, but he was actually a con man.
- The sophisticated con man posed as a charity worker to access victims' bank details.
- After his release, the con man immediately returned to his old tricks.
- A master con man, his grifts were so elaborate they were later adapted into a film.
- The investigation revealed a network of con men targeting vulnerable immigrants across the continent.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONvincing MAN. A CON MAN is convincing (CON) until you realise he's just a bad MAN.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A PERFORMANCE / TRUST IS A VULNERABLE OBJECT ('gain confidence', 'play the victim').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'аферист' in all contexts; 'аферист' can imply a more grandiose scheme. For smaller-scale deceptions, 'мошенник' is safer.
- Do not confuse with 'вор' (thief) which implies direct stealing without manipulation.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'conman' (acceptable) vs. 'con-man' (hyphenated) vs. 'con man' (two words). Dictionaries vary.
- Using it for any criminal, rather than one specifically using deception and charm.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes a 'con man's' typical action?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A thief typically takes property directly through stealth or force. A con man uses psychological manipulation, gaining the victim's trust first, making the victim willingly hand over money or property.
It is a descriptive, informal term for a criminal. It is not a slur but is inherently negative. In formal writing, 'fraudster' or 'swindler' might be preferred.
Yes, though the term is gendered. 'Con woman' or the gender-neutral 'con artist' are also commonly used.
It is a shortening of 'confidence man', first recorded in 1849, referring to a criminal who wins the 'confidence' of their victim before betraying it.
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