long con

American  

[lawng kon, long] / ˈlɔŋ ˈkɒn, ˈlɒŋ /

noun

Slang.

1. an elaborate confidence game that develops in several stages over an extended period of time wherein the con man or swindler gains the victim’s trust, often bypassing small profits with the goal of reaping a much larger payout in the final maneuver.

   The key to pulling off a long con is giving your marks the illusion of control while you and your team manipulate their choices.

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Etymology

Origin of long con

long ¹ ( def. ) + con ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

But now I find myself questioning what exactly Chloe knows about Tanya and whether she’s running a long con on Chelsea.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2025

We’ll never know if that might have been different, for better or worse, had Pruitt or others been free to caution us about the “Apprentice” long con.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2024

After a season of dormancy last year that I now recognize as some sort of horticultural long con, it has suddenly stirred into open rebellion, producing truly unreasonable quantities of small, tart fruit.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2023

I’ve often said in interviews I really don’t believe that she dropped out of Stanford at age 19 in 2003, intending to commit a long con, intending to commit fraud.

From The Verge • Sep. 28, 2021

Lily knows how to play the long con; her brother’s made sure of that.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland