dirty tricks

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dirty tricks¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Russia and Iran have both been named by French intelligence as countries liable to provoke dissension in France through "dirty tricks".

From BBC

In response, Ukraine said that Russia was playing "dirty tricks" and manipulating the facts.

From BBC

However, Musk himself has mocked the comparisons, stating on X: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

From Salon

Critics, including some historians, said it was a Nazi salute - Mr Musk has dismissed that, saying comparisons with Hitler were "tired" and "dirty tricks."

From BBC

After one account on X called the uproar a “hoax” and part of what Musk himself had once called a “dirty tricks campaign” against him by liberals, Musk reposted the comment.

From Los Angeles Times