confidence game


noun

any swindle in which the swindler, after gaining the confidence of the victim, robs the victim by cheating at a gambling game, appropriating funds entrusted for investment, or the like.
Also called, British, confidence trick.

Origin of confidence game

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

British Dictionary definitions for confidence trick

confidence trick

US and Canadian confidence game


noun

a swindle involving money, goods, etc, in which the victim's trust is won by the swindler Informal shortened forms: con trick, (US and Canadian) con game

Idioms and Phrases with confidence trick

confidence game

Also, confidence trick; con game. A swindle in which the victim is defrauded after his or her trust has been won. For example, The police warned of a confidence game in which people were asked to turn over valuables for a so-called appraisal, or The typical confidence trick is easy to spot if you know what to look for, or I almost let myself be taken in by her con game—she seemed so sincere. These terms, which use confidence in the sense of “trust,” date from the mid-1800s. They also gave rise to confidence man (or con man) for the swindler.