shell game en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Meanings
-
A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess which of three small cups (or shells) a pea-sized object is concealed under, after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery.
Another common form of short con is the shell game. This scam has the advantage of giving the criminal the ability to rip off many marks all at one location.
2009, Michael Benson, Cons and Frauds, Infobase, →ISBN, page 21:
- Any confidence scheme, especially one involving the rapid movement of investment funds to a location beyond recovery.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shell games | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (14)
bg тука има тука няма (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · cy tric y tri gwniadur (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · pl gra w trzy kubki i groszek (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · ga cluiche sliogán (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · ro alba-neagra (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · de Hütchenspiel (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · cs skořápky (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · es Pepito paga doble (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · es trile (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · sv bägarspelet (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · es mosqueta (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · ga cleas na méaracán (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · hu itt a piros, hol a piros (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed) · ru напёрстки (game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed)