confidence trick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “confidence trick” mean?
A deception in which a person gains the trust of another in order to defraud them of money or property.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deception in which a person gains the trust of another in order to defraud them of money or property.
Any act of deceit or manipulation that relies on establishing false trust or exploiting someone's good faith for personal gain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'confidence trick' is more common in British English. In American English, the abbreviation 'con trick' is rare, and the term 'confidence game' or simply 'con' is preferred.
Connotations
Same core meaning in both varieties. The British term can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned to American ears.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK media and legal contexts. In the US, 'scam', 'swindle', or 'con' are more frequent in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “confidence trick” in a Sentence
[Perpetrator] + pulled/operated + a confidence trick + on [Victim]It + was + a confidence trick + to [Purpose]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “confidence trick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was confidence-tricked out of his life savings.
- They specialise in confidence-tricking elderly victims.
American English
- He was conned out of his life savings in a classic grift.
- She was swindled by a smooth-talking fraudster.
adverb
British English
- The scheme was confidence-trickishly elaborate.
- (Rarely used; 'deceptively' is preferred)
American English
- The scheme was deceptively elaborate.
- (No common adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- He's a confidence-trick artist of the highest order.
- They uncovered a confidence-trick scheme spanning three countries.
American English
- He's a con artist of the highest order.
- They uncovered a con game spanning three states.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe complex investment frauds or corporate deceit, e.g., 'The acquisition turned out to be an elaborate confidence trick on the shareholders.'
Academic
Used in criminology, sociology, or psychology to analyse the methods of fraudsters and the psychology of trust exploitation.
Everyday
Used to describe being cheated in a significant financial or personal matter, often after the fact. 'I realised the whole friendship was just a confidence trick to get me to invest.'
Technical
In law enforcement, refers to a specific category of fraud (vs. burglary, robbery).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “confidence trick”
- Using 'confidence trick' to mean a self-help technique for gaining confidence. (Incorrect)
- Spelling as 'confidence *trip*'.
- Using it for a simple, impulsive lie rather than a sustained deception.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A confidence trick is a sustained, often complex, deception that builds and exploits the victim's trust over time for material gain. A simple lie can be a one-off false statement.
Yes. 'Con' is the standard American abbreviation derived from 'confidence' in this context. A 'con man' is someone who perpetrates confidence tricks.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically for any situation where trust is falsely gained and exploited, e.g., in politics or personal relationships, though its primary use is financial.
'To pull' (e.g., 'He pulled a confidence trick on them.') is a very common collocation. 'To perpetrate', 'to operate', and 'to be a victim of' are also frequent.
Confidence trick is usually formal, journalistic in register.
Confidence trick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒn.fɪ.dəns ˌtrɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːn.fə.dəns ˌtrɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A con artist”
- “To con someone”
- “To be taken for a ride”
- “A snake oil salesman”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A CONFIDENCE trick makes you CONFIDE (share secrets/trust) in the trickster.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (which can be stolen). DECEPTION IS A PERFORMANCE (with a trick).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'confidence trick' in its core meaning?