Thimblerig

Pronunciation: /ˈθɪmbəlrɪɡ/

Definitions of thimblerig

noun a sleight-of-hand trick in which a small ball or pea is quickly shifted from under one thimble to another in order to confuse or deceive the audience

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a thimblerig game at the fair.

A2 The street performer used thimblerig to entertain the crowd.

B1 The thimblerig scam artist tricked unsuspecting tourists out of their money.

B2 The police were investigating a thimblerig operation in the city.

C1 The thimblerig master was able to deceive even the most observant spectators.

C2 The thimblerig scheme was exposed by an undercover detective.

Examples of thimblerig in a Sentence

formal The magician performed a thimblerig trick using three cups and a small ball.

informal I saw a street performer doing some thimblerig with cards on the corner.

slang I can't believe he thimblerigged his way out of that situation!

figurative The politician was known for his thimblerig tactics in debates, always shifting the focus away from the real issues.

Grammatical Forms of thimblerig

• past tense: thimblerigged
• plural: thimblerigs
• comparative: more thimblerig
• superlative: most thimblerig
• present tense: thimblerigs
• future tense: will thimblerig
• perfect tense: have thimblerigged
• continuous tense: is thimblerigging
• singular: thimblerig
• positive degree: thimblerig
• infinitive: to thimblerig
• gerund: thimblerigging
• participle: thimblerigged

Origin and Evolution of thimblerig

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'thimblerig' originates from the practice of cheating in a gambling game involving three thimbles and a pea, often used by street hustlers.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'thimblerig' has evolved to also refer to any deceptive or fraudulent activity, not just the specific gambling game it was originally associated with.