dirty tricks

American  

plural noun

Informal.

1. Politics. unethical or illegal campaign practices or pranks intended to disrupt or sabotage the campaigns of opposing candidates.

2. any similar practices carried out against rival countries or corporations for espionage or commercial purposes.

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dirty tricks Idioms  

1. Undercover or clandestine operations and deceitful stratagems in politics and espionage. For example, This campaign has been dominated by the dirty tricks of both sides. The adjective dirty here is used in the sense of “unethical” or “unfair.” The term originally was applied to covert intelligence operations carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency, whose planning directorate was nicknamed “department of dirty tricks.” It later was extended to underhanded activity intended to undermine political opponents and commercial rivals. [1940s]

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Other Word Forms

• dirty-trickery
  noun
• dirty-tricks
  adjective
• dirty-trickster
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dirty tricks

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

But as accusations of corruption and dirty tricks against Mitterrand began to mount, his relations with the president became more distant.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

But while the Reds claimed a 2-1 win courtesy of two Steven Gerrard penalties, the Liverpool skipper felt there had been a few dirty tricks from the Hammers.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

But for all the talk of South Carolina’s penchant for dirty tricks, the state also values the glad hand.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2024

“There’s dirty tricks being played all over the place,” Swanson said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2023

Chatty Cathy had been up to dirty tricks.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia