SHELLGAME

Shell game

The shell game is portrayed as a gambling game, but in reality, when a wager for money is made, it is a confidence trick used to perpetrate fraud. In confidence trick slang, this swindle is referred to as a short-con because it is quick and easy to pull off.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Shell game
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

shell game

Noun

  1. A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess under which of three small cups (or shells) a pea-sized object has been placed after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery.
  2. Any confidence scheme, especially one involving the rapid movement of investment funds to a location beyond recovery.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: shell game
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!