long con: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “long con” mean?
An elaborate, complex deception planned over an extended period.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An elaborate, complex deception planned over an extended period.
A scheme or scam that requires significant time, trust-building, and intricate planning to execute, often involving a narrative that unfolds slowly to make the eventual fraud more convincing and lucrative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. Slightly more prevalent in American media due to its roots in American confidence trickster culture.
Connotations
Identical connotations of cunning, patient criminality.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, but well-understood in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “long con” in a Sentence
[Subject] ran/pulled/executed a long con on [Target].It was all an elaborate long con.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long con” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He spent years *conning* the elderly couple out of their savings.
American English
- She was *conned* into investing in a fake company.
adverb
British English
- The scheme was *connivingly* elaborate.
American English
- He acted *deceitfully* for months.
adjective
British English
- He's a *con* artist of the highest order.
American English
- It was a classic *con* job.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a business strategy perceived as deceitfully extracting value over time.
Academic
Rare; may appear in criminology, sociology, or media studies discussing fraud.
Everyday
Used to describe any prolonged, deceitful personal or professional manipulation.
Technical
Specific term in criminology for a confidence trick requiring extended setup.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long con”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long con”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long con”
- Using 'long con' for a simple, quick lie.
- Misspelling as 'long con*e*'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically in business or politics to describe prolonged, deceptive strategies.
A 'short con' is a quick swindle with immediate payoff (e.g., three-card monte). A 'long con' requires extensive setup, character acting, and relationship building for a much larger final theft.
Not directly. You 'run' or 'pull' a long con. The related verb is 'to con' someone.
It is informal, originating from the criminal underworld ('con' from 'confidence trick'), but is now standard in informal and journalistic English.
An elaborate, complex deception planned over an extended period.
Long con: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈkɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a long con.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LONG story a CON artist tells to build trust before stealing everything.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A PATIENT GAME / TRUST IS A WEAPON.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key characteristic of a 'long con'?