flimflam

[ flim-flam ]
See synonyms for: flimflamflimflammer on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidence game involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation of the victim.

  2. a piece of nonsense; twaddle; bosh.

verb (used with object),flim·flammed, flim·flam·ming.
  1. to trick, deceive, swindle, or cheat: A fortuneteller flimflammed her out of her savings.

Origin of flimflam

1
First recorded in 1530–40; gradational compound of expressive origin

Other words from flimflam

  • flimflammer, noun
  • flim·flam·mer·y, noun

Words Nearby flimflam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flimflam in a sentence

  • As long as there is plenty of flimflam to distract the viewer.

    Toy Shop | Henry Maxwell Dempsey
  • A flimflam offer by a theologian of inchoate title to improved real estate in the Sky for real estate, rentals and cash on Earth.

    The Roycroft Dictionary | Elbert Hubbard

British Dictionary definitions for flimflam

flimflam

/ (ˈflɪmˌflæm) informal /


noun
    • nonsense; foolishness

    • (as modifier): flimflam arguments

  1. a deception; swindle

verb-flams, -flamming or -flammed
  1. (tr) to deceive; trick; swindle; cheat

Origin of flimflam

1
C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse flīm mockery, Norwegian flire to giggle

Derived forms of flimflam

  • flimflammer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012