Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

thimblerigging

Noun

/ˈθɪmb.lər.ɪɡ/

Definition

Thimblerigging refers to a type of swindling or trickery, often involving a game of chance with shells or cups where an object is hidden and the audience is invited to guess its location.

Examples

At the fair, we watched the thimblerigging game, but I knew it was just a scam.
He fell for the thimblerigging trick, losing his money to the smooth-talking con artist.

Meaning

The term is used to describe dishonest practices in which someone deceives another person, typically through sleight of hand, by making them believe they can win something by guessing correctly.