shell game
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shell game
noun shell games
-
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.
Similar: thimblerig
- Any confidence scheme, especially one involving the rapid movement of investment funds to a location beyond recovery.
Translations
Every language
noun game which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups a pea-sized object has been placed
| Español | trile, Pepito paga doble, mosqueta |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Hütchenspiel |
| Română | alba-neagra |
| Русский | напёрстки napjórstki |
Talk about this word "shell game." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/shell%20game. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. shell game. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/shell%20game "shell game." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/shell%20game.Cite this
@misc{shell_game_2026,
title = {shell game},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/shell%20game},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
