A maneuver in a game or conversation.

synonyms: gambit, ploy.

Roget 545: deception; falseness etc. 544; untruth etc. 546; imposition, imposture; fraud, deceit, guile; fraudulence, fraudulency^†; covin^†; knavery etc. (cunning) 702; misrepresentation etc. (falsehood) 544; bluff; straw-bail, straw bid [U.S.]; spoof [Slang].    delusion, gullery^†; juggling, jugglery^†; slight of hand, legerdemain; prestigiation^†, prestidigitation; magic etc. 992; conjuring, conjuration; hocus-pocus, escamoterie^†, jockeyship^†; trickery, coggery^†, chicanery; supercherie^†, cozenage^†, circumvention, ingannation^†, collusion; treachery etc. 940; practical joke.    trick, cheat, wile, blind, feint, plant, bubble, fetch, catch, chicane, juggle, reach, hocus, bite; card sharping, stacked deck, loaded dice, quick shuffle, double dealing, dealing seconds, dealing from the bottom of the deck; artful dodge, swindle; tricks upon travelers; stratagem etc. (artifice) 702; confidence trick, fake, hoax; theft etc. 791; ballot-box stuffing [U.S.], barney [Slang]; brace game [Slang], bunko game, drop game [Slang], gum game [U.S.], panel game [U.S.], shell game, thimblerig, skin game [U.S.].    snare, trap, pitfall, decoy, gin; springe^†, springle^†; noose, hoot; bait, decoy-duck, tub to the whale, baited trap, guet-a-pens; cobweb, net, meshes, toils, mouse trap, birdlime; dionaea^†, Venus's flytrap^†; ambush etc. 530; trapdoor, sliding panel, false bottom; spring-net, spring net, spring gun, mask, masked battery; mine; flytrap^†; green goods [U.S.]; panel house.    Cornish hug; wolf in sheep's clothing etc. (deceiver) 548; disguise, disguisement^†; false colors, masquerade, mummery, borrowed plumes; pattes de velours [Fr.].    mockery etc. (imitation) 19; copy etc. 21; counterfeit, sham, make-believe, forgery, fraud; lie etc. 546; a delusion a mockery and a snare" [Denman], hollow mockery.    whited sepulcher, painted sepulcher; tinsel; paste, junk jewelry, costume jewelry, false jewelry, synthetic jewels; scagliola^†, ormolu, German silver, albata^†, paktong^†, white metal, Britannia metal, paint; veneer; jerry building; man of straw.    illusion etc. (error) 495; ignis fatuus [Lat.] etc. 423; mirage etc. 443.    ... show more

An elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade.

synonyms: contrivance, dodge.

Roget 702: cunning, craft; cunningness^†, craftiness etc. adj.; subtlety, artificiality; maneuvering etc. v.; temporization; circumvention.    chicane, chicanery; sharp practice, knavery, jugglery^†; concealment etc. 528; guile, doubling, duplicity etc. (falsehood) 544; foul play.    diplomacy, politics; Machiavelism; jobbery, backstairs influence.    art, artifice; device, machination; plot etc. (plan) 626; maneuver, stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile; trick, trickery etc. (deception) 545; ruse, ruse de guerre [Fr.]; finesse, side blow, thin end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion; white lie etc. (untruth) 546; juggle, tour de force; tricks of the trade, tricks upon travelers; espieglerie [Fr.]; net, trap etc. 545.    Ulysses, Machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard; Scotchman; Jew, Yankee; intriguer, intrigant^†; floater [U.S.], Indian giver [U.S.], keener [U.S.], repeater [U.S.].    ... show more

Roget 626: plan, scheme, design, project; proposal, proposition, suggestion; resolution, motion; precaution etc. (provision) 673; deep-laid plan etc. (premeditated) 611; system etc. (order) 58; organization etc. (arrangement) 60; germ etc. (cause) 153.    sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche [Fr.], brouillon [Fr.]; rough cast, rough draft, draught copy; copy; proof, revise.    drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation) 554.    forecast, program, programme, prospectus; carte du pays [Fr.]; card; bill, protocol; order of the day, list of agenda; bill of fare etc. (food) 298; base of operations; platform, plank, slate [U.S.], ticket [U.S.].    role; policy etc. (line of conduct) 692.    contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device; pipelaying [U.S.]; stratagem etc. (cunning) 702; trick etc. (deception) 545; alternative, loophole; shift etc. (substitute) 147; last shift etc. (necessity) 601.    measure, step; stroke, stroke of policy; master stroke; trump card, court card; cheval de bataille [Fr.], great gun; coup, coup d'etat [Fr.]; clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke; bright thought, bright idea.    intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot^†, machination; subplot, underplot^†, counterplot.    schemer, schemist^†, schematist^†; strategist, machinator; projector, artist, promoter, designer etc. v.; conspirator; intrigant etc. (cunning) 702^†.    ... show more