bunko
Americannoun
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a swindle in which a person is cheated at gambling, persuaded to buy a nonexistent, unsalable, or worthless object, or otherwise victimized.
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any misrepresentation.
verb (used with object)
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bunko
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Neighbors knew her from the monthly gathering of women who rotated between homes for games of the dice game bunko.
From Time ● Dec. 17, 2012
Caan, a perennially baffled ex-con, basically plays straight man to Boyle as a bunko artist-bandleader and Lasser as the band leader's addled spouse, both of whom are amiably funny throughout.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Johnny sniffs the scent of a bunko artist at work as soon as the good little girl donates .all her cash to a mission house.
From Time Magazine Archive
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To date, the efforts by police bunko squads and civic associations to clean up the repair industry have resulted in licensing laws for various types of servicemen in several states.
From Time Magazine Archive
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Had I gone to New York City and hunted up the gentlemanly bunko man and the Wall street dealer in lamb's pelts, as my better judgment prompted, I might have returned with funds.
From Remarks by Nye, Bill
“Besides,” Burd Alling said in comment on this, “for a good cause we are all ready and willing to be bunkoed a little.”
From The Campfire Girls of Roselawn Or, a Strange Message from the Air by Penrose, Margaret
If they 15 promised that, they sure bunkoed themselves.
From In the Shadow of the Hills by Shedd, George C. (George Clifford)
"Well, I'll be bunkoed," said Uncle Ike, as he began to pull the sweater off over his head.
From Peck's Uncle Ike and The Red Headed Boy 1899 by Peck, George W. (George Wilbur)
“So you’re the party who bunkoed Lefty, are you?”
From Lefty Locke Pitcher-Manager by Standish, Burt L.
I hope I'm a good loser as far as the money goes, but I hate to be bunkoed.
From Fore! by Loan, Charles Emmett Van
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.