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skullduggery

[ skuhl-duhg-uh-ree ] [ skʌlˈdʌg ə ri ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

mean dishonesty or trickery.

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Why Dictionary.com chose skullduggery

More about skullduggery

  • ³§°ì³Ü±ô±ô»å³Ü²µ²µ±ð°ù²âÌýcan also refer to an instance of dishonest behavior.
  • Skullduggery is an Americanism dating back to 1865–70.
  • It’s a variant of sculduddery, a Scots word meaning “obscenity.â€

EXAMPLES OF SKULLDUGGERY

  • The politician was caught engaging in skullduggery to gain an unfair advantage over her opponent in the election.
  • The company’s CEO was fired after it was discovered he had been involved in skullduggery to cover up the company’s financial losses.
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51³Ô¹Ï of the day

twee

[ twee ] [ twi ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

affectedly dainty or quaint.

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Why Dictionary.com chose twee

More about twee

  • Twee comes from 20th century British baby talk.
  • Twee was most likely reduced from tweet, mimicking a child’s pronunciation of sweet.
  • Twee is also a subgenre of indie pop music.

EXAMPLES OF TWEE

  • The previously bland-looking café now sported a twee renovation, complete with pastel-colored chairs and floral wallpaper.
  • The room was filled with the twee trinkets that he had collected over the years, giving it a quaint, old-world vibe.
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51³Ô¹Ï of the day

legerdemain

[ lej-er-duh-meyn ] [ ˌlɛdʒ ər dəˈmeɪn ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

sleight of hand.

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Why Dictionary.com chose legerdemain

More about legerdemain

  • Legerdemain comes from a late Middle English word, legerdemeyn, meaning “skill in conjuring.â€
  • That word, in turn, comes from a Middle French phrase, léger de main, meaning “nimble” or “skillful” that’s literally translated as “light of hand.â€
  • Legerdemain was first recorded between 1400–1450.

EXAMPLES OF LEGERDEMAIN

  • The audience was mesmerized by the performer’s legerdemain as he made a coin disappear and reappear from behind their ears.
  • The pickpocket’s legerdemain was so skillful that her victims had no idea their wallets were missing until much later.
51³Ô¹Ï of the Day Calendar
51³Ô¹Ï of the Day Calendar