World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesTrick of the light
/ˌtrɪk əv ðə ˈlaɪt/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
An optical illusion caused by unusual or deceptive lighting, making someone see something that is not actually there.
"I thought I saw a shadow move in the corner, but it was just a trick of the light." - 2
A visual misinterpretation or momentary deception of the eyes.
"The strange shape on the wall turned out to be a trick of the light reflecting off the window."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from traditional English idioms describing optical illusions caused by unusual lighting conditions. The phrase combines the Middle English 'tricke' (meaning a deception or artifice) with the fundamental concept of illumination, gaining widespread literary usage in the 19th century.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Trick of the light" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
jeu de lumière
Transliteration: zhø də ly.mɛʁ
"Ce n'était qu'un jeu de lumière sur le mur."
optische Täuschung
Transliteration: ˈɔptɪʃə ˈtɔɪʃʊŋ
"Das war nur eine optische Täuschung durch das Lampenlicht."
gioco di luce
Transliteration: ˈdʒɔːko di ˈluːtʃe
"Quella forma strana era solo un gioco di luce."
efecto óptico
Transliteration: eˈfektu ˈoptiku
"Pensé que vi algo, pero fue solo un efecto óptico."
ilusão de ótica
Transliteration: iluˈzãw dji ˈɔtika
"Achei que era uma pessoa, mas era apenas um jogo de luz."
प्रकाश का धोखा
Transliteration: prakash ka dhokha
"मैंने जो देखा वह केवल प्रकाश का धोखा था।"
光影错觉
Transliteration: guāng yǐng cuò jué
"那不是真的幽灵，只是光影错觉。"
빛의 장난
Transliteration: bich-ui jang-nan
"그것은 단지 빛의 장난일 뿐이었다."
目の錯覚
Transliteration: me no sakkaku
"あそこに何かが見えたのは、ただの光のいたずらだった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsA very rich person; a millionaire or billionaire of legendary proportions.
A person who promotes or publicizes a particular organization, doctrine, or biased point of view, often using misleading or manipulative information.
A scarecrow or a grotesque figure set up in a field.
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