flimflam

[ flim-flam ]

noun

1. a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidence game involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation of the victim.
2. a piece of nonsense; twaddle; bosh.

verb (used with object)

, flim·flammed, flim·flam·ming.

1. to trick, deceive, swindle, or cheat:

   A fortuneteller flimflammed her out of her savings.

flimflam

/ ˈflɪmˌflæm /

noun

1. 1. nonsense; foolishness
   2. ( as modifier )

      flimflam arguments

2. a deception; swindle

verb

1. tr to deceive; trick; swindle; cheat

Derived Forms

• ˈflimˌflammer, noun

Other Words From

• flimflammer noun
• flimflammer·y noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimflam¹

First recorded in 1530–40; gradational compound of expressive origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimflam¹

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse flīm mockery, Norwegian flire to giggle

Example Sentences

He neither genuflects to it nor tries to tart it up as a flashy, self-satisfied blockbuster flimflam.

From Time

But this new flavor of rhetorical flimflam is still pretty, well, whack.

From The Daily Beast

But that means they would have to dismiss his words as typical political flimflam.

From The Daily Beast

I tried my darndest to flimflam the information out of him, but it was no use.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw that modern financial ingenuity has found a way to flimflam the devil himself.

From Project Gutenberg

As long as there is plenty of flimflam to distract the viewer.

From Project Gutenberg

A flimflam offer by a theologian of inchoate title to improved real estate in the Sky for real estate, rentals and cash on Earth.

From Project Gutenberg