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-trickster
  noun
• dirty-tricks
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dirty tricks

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dirty tricks

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 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

In the UK, hundreds of Amazon workers in Coventry are currently on strike, but their union recently withdrew its bid for recognition, accusing the shopping giant of "dirty tricks".

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2023

While you will have your army at the ready in case Ghohg plays dirty tricks, do not forget that Ghohg will doubtless have his goblin army ready to attack us, too.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin