dirty trick

Thân thiện

A competitor plays a dirty trick by hiding the other player's racket.

Definition

Noun: 1. A deceitful or malicious act intended to harm or disadvantage someone: A "dirty trick" is an underhanded, unfair, or unethical action, often involving deception, designed to gain an advantage over an opponent or to cause them harm. It implies a lack of scruples or fair play. 2. A mean-spirited or cruel practical joke: In a less formal context, it can refer to a prank or joke that is intentionally hurtful or humiliating, going beyond good-natured fun.

Usage

The term "dirty trick" is commonly used in political, competitive, and personal contexts to describe actions that violate norms of fairness. It carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty and malice.

Examples

• Political Context:
  • The campaign was accused of using dirty tricks, such as spreading false rumors about the candidate's past.
  • Leaking confidential documents to the press was seen as a political dirty trick.
• General/Personal Context:
  • Hiding someone's keys as a joke is one thing, but spreading lies about them is a dirty trick.
  • He felt betrayed when he discovered the dirty trick his business partner had played on him.

Advanced Usage

• "dirty tricks campaign/unit/department": A coordinated effort or a specific group dedicated to using underhanded methods, especially in politics or espionage.
  • The scandal revealed the existence of a dirty tricks campaign within the organization.

Variants and Related Words

• Dirty-trickster (n, informal): A person who habitually uses or specializes in dirty tricks.
• Dirty pool (n, chiefly US, informal): Unfair or underhanded behavior; conduct that is not sportsmanlike.

Synonyms

• Deception: The act of deceiving someone.
• Stratagem: A clever scheme or maneuver, which can be neutral or underhanded.
• Skulduggery (or sculduggery): Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery.
• Chicanery: The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.
• Underhanded tactic: A method that is secret and dishonest.

Related Phrases

• Play a dirty trick on (someone): To perform a dirty trick targeting a specific person.
  • I can't believe he played such a dirty trick on his own brother.
• Pull a dirty trick: To carry out a dirty trick.
  • The competitor pulled a dirty trick to win the contract.

Related Idioms

• Low blow: An unfair or cruel comment or action.
  • Bringing up his personal failures during the debate was a real low blow. (Conceptually similar as an unfair tactic intended to hurt.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. an unkind or aggressive trick