con job

American  

noun

Informal.

1. an act or instance of duping or swindling.

2. an act or instance of lying or talking glibly to convince others or get one's way.

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Etymology

Origin of con job

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Ponzi bounced between con job and jail, dying broke.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

Don’t miss: ‘Affordability is a con job for consumers’: 2025 was one hell of a year.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

The con job was, he thinks, “no more than a practical joke, really. Good clean sport.”

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2024

“I think that was a con job, sales job, but I’m trying anything,” Auriemma said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 30, 2023

Asking for help was a simple con job, but he hadn’t liked the idea of pleading guilty.

From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen