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Synonyms

dirty pool

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. unethical, unfair, or unsportsmanlike conduct.


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.

Nay voters defended their position, saying their belief in American values wouldn’t allow them to engage in dirty pool.

From Salon • Dec. 11, 2025

He then plays some dirty pool by showing a headline from The New York Times about the buyer of the painting, cropping out the byline of the correspondent David D. Kirkpatrick.

From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2021

“Then she played dirty pool, and said, ‘If you go, the students might not enjoy it because they would be worrying about you,’” Barb recalled.

From Washington Times • Mar. 7, 2016

"That's dirty pool," said Robert Rehm, a Verizon Communications shareholder who also recently retired as a director of the Association of BellTel Retirees, which represents former Verizon workers.

From Reuters • Dec. 20, 2013

By the pump, the horse-trough, and the dirty pool I knew that there was entertainment there for man and horse. 

From A Tramp's Wallet stored by an English goldsmith during his wanderings in Germany and France by Duthie, William