rhizoverbBeta
DictionarylegerdemainSkillful trickery
noun

legerdemain

lej-er-duh-MAYN/ˈledʒərdəmeɪn/

Skillful use of tricks to deceive.

The magician's legerdemain hides the coin while directing the spectator toward the empty cup.

A white female magician deftly conceals a coin in her fingers while directing a Black spectator's attention to an empty cup.
Etymology
legerOld Frenchlight, nimble
+deOld Frenchof
+mainOld Frenchhand

Literally 'light of hand,' the expression describes nimble hands rather than their weight. That quickness became a name for conjuring tricks and skillful deception.

More examples

  • The magician's legerdemain makes the coin seem to disappear.
  • Her verbal legerdemain makes a price increase sound like a bargain.
  • The lawyer accuses the agency of legal legerdemain.

Similar words

trickery
A broader term for deceit, without emphasizing practiced skill.
manipulation
Emphasizes controlling people or information to gain an advantage.