card shark

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Word: Card Shark

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition:

A "card shark" is a person who is very skilled at playing card games and often cheats to win. They make money by tricking others while playing cards.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "card shark" to refer specifically to someone who plays cards professionally and uses dishonest methods to win.
• It is often used in informal contexts and can have a negative connotation because it implies cheating.

Example:

• "He was such a good card shark that he won almost every game, but people started to suspect he was cheating."

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or movies, a "card shark" might be portrayed as a clever and cunning character who uses their skills to outsmart opponents.

Word Variants:

• Card Sharper: This is an older term that means the same thing as "card shark."
• Card Playing: Refers to the act of playing card games, which can be done for fun or professionally.

Different Meanings:

• The term "shark" on its own can refer to someone who is predatory in nature, often taking advantage of others, not just in card games but in other contexts like business.

Synonyms:

• Cheat
• Con artist
• Gambler (though not all gamblers cheat)
• Hustler (in a broader sense)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Shark Tank": While not directly related to card sharks, this idiom refers to a situation where an inexperienced person is exposed to a group of aggressive competitors or critics, similar to how a card shark might take advantage of less experienced players.
• "Play your cards right": This means to act in a way that will give you a good outcome, which is the opposite of what a card shark does.

Summary:

A "card shark" is someone who is very good at card games, often cheating to win.

Academic

Noun

1. a professional card player who makes a living by cheating at card games

Synonyms

• cardsharp
• card sharp
• cardsharper
• card sharper
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy