Dictionary.com

flimflam

[ flim-flam ]
/ ˈflɪmˌflæm /
Informal.
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: flimflam / flimflammer on Thesaurus.com
noun
a trick or deception, especially a swindle or confidence game involving skillful persuasion or clever manipulation of the victim.
a piece of nonsense; twaddle; bosh.
verb (used with object), flim·flammed, flim·flam·ming.
to trick, deceive, swindle, or cheat: A fortuneteller flimflammed her out of her savings.
QUIZ
SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?
Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!
Question 1 of 6
Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?
shall
should
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of flimflam

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

OTHER WORDS FROM flimflam

flimflammer, nounflim·flam·mer·y, noun

Words nearby flimflam

flight surgeon, flight-test, flightworthy, flighty, flim, flimflam, flimsy, flinch, flinders, Flinders bar, Flinders grass
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to flimflam

burn, cheat, chisel, con, dupe, fleece, fool, gull, gyp, hose, rook, sandbag, scam, shaft, steal, trick, bilk, defraud, diddle, pull a fast one

How to use flimflam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flimflam

flimflam
/ (ˈflɪmˌflæm) informal /
noun
  1. nonsense; foolishness
  2. (as modifier)flimflam arguments
a deception; swindle
verb -flams, -flamming or -flammed
(tr) to deceive; trick; swindle; cheat

Derived forms of flimflam

flimflammer, noun

Word Origin for flimflam

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse flīm mockery, Norwegian flire to giggle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK