have-on

A con artist's have-on left the tourist with an empty wallet.

Definition

1. Noun (informal):
   • A deception or trick: "have-on" refers to an act of deceiving or fooling someone, often in a playful or mischievous manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He thought it was a genuine offer, but it was just a have-on. (It was a trick intended to deceive him.)
  • The prank was a harmless have-on among friends. (A playful deception among friends.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a have-on": to be a trick or deception.
  • The whole story was a have-on designed to embarrass him. (The entire narrative was a deceitful trick.)

Variants and Related Words

• Have someone on (phrasal verb): to deceive or tease someone playfully.
  • Don't believe him; he's just having you on. (He is teasing or tricking you.)

Synonyms

• Trick: a cunning or deceitful act.
• Deception: the act of misleading someone.
• Prank: a playful or mischievous trick.
• Hoax: a deliberate deception intended to cause amusement or embarrassment.

Related Idioms

• Pull a fast one: to deceive or trick someone.

  • He tried to pull a fast one on me, but I saw through it. (He attempted to deceive me.)

• Take for a ride: to deceive or cheat someone.

  • They took him for a ride with that fake investment. (They tricked him.)