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

Author Fabcaro and illustrator Didier Conrad have opted for a classic storytelling blend of fights, dirty tricks, local specialities -- and an encounter with Caesar himself.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

“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

Soon they ran a front-page story that falsely accused Connaughton of orchestrating the arrest through "dirty tricks."

From Salon • Apr. 18, 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