card sharp

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card sharp

A card sharp deals from the bottom of the deck at a dimly lit table.

Definition

Noun: A person who is skilled at manipulating cards and uses this skill to cheat others in card games, typically to earn money. A card sharp is a professional or habitual cheat who relies on deception and sleight of hand.

Usage and Examples
  • Noun:
    • The casino security was always on the lookout for known card sharps.
    • He lost his entire savings to a card sharp in a backroom poker game.
    • In the old western film, the hero exposed the card sharp who was cheating the townspeople.
Advanced Usage
  • The term often implies a level of professional skill and deliberate dishonesty. It is not used for a novice or occasional cheater.
  • Historically associated with gambling saloons and riverboats.
  • Can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is cunning and deceptive in non-gambling contexts, though this is less common.
    • In the business negotiation, he was a real card sharp, always hiding his true intentions.
Variants and Related Words
  • Card shark: A more common modern variant with the same meaning. Some distinguish "shark" as a highly skilled but honest player, but in general usage, both terms imply cheating.
  • Cardsharp: A common alternative spelling as a single word.
  • Sharper: An older, more general term for a swindler or cheat, of which "card sharp" is a specific type.
Synonyms
  • Cheat: A person who acts dishonestly to gain an advantage.
  • Cardsharp / Card shark: Direct variants.
  • Swindler: A person who uses deception to deprive someone of money or possessions.
  • Hustler: A person who uses aggressive or deceptive tactics, often in gambling or sales.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Sharp practice: Dishonest or barely honest business dealings. This phrase shares the root word "sharp" meaning clever in a dishonest way.
    • The company was accused of sharp practice in its accounting methods.
  • To have a card up one's sleeve: To have a secret plan or advantage. While not exclusive to cheating, it originates from the practice of hiding cards.
    • Don't worry about the competition; I have a card up my sleeve.
card sharp

A card sharp deals from the bottom of the deck at a dimly lit table.

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

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