Idioms

con artist

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con artist

1. A person who exploits the vulnerability of others for their own sake by manipulating and taking advantage of their confidence (the act of which is known as a confidence trick or game). It is the common abbreviation of the full term, "confidence artist." Be wary of con artists who send emails claiming to be a bank or some other trustworthy establishment: they often ask for your personal bank details to have access to your finances. The con artist talked him out of his entire life's savings with the promise of investing it in a surefire money-making scheme. A: "The CEO was found guilty of fraud." B: "What a surprise—another billionaire con artist thinking he can get away with anything."
2. By extension, a person who is skilled at duplicity, cajolery, or self-serving manipulation or persuasion. John is such a con artist, always convincing others to pay for him on nights out under the pretense that he'll "pay them back later." I'm not surprised that con artist didn't do his half of the project as promised. I have no idea why the boss keeps him around. Mom, Rich is still the same con artist he's always been. Do not give him any money.
See also: artist, con
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

con artist

verb
See also: artist, con
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in periodicals archive
NAOMI MATTHEW: 2.10 Off Art, 2.40 Saltaire Lass, 3.10 Spinatrix, 3.40 Con Artist (nap), 4.10 Cape Rising, 4.40 Commend (nb), 5.10 Irish Boy.
The victims were promised returns of 25% within three months, but the con artists used the money for high living, buying a yacht and a helicopter, the association said.
In preparation for the subject interview with a known con artist, investigators must become familiar with all aspects of the scheme.
The con artist is described as white, in his 30s, of thin athletic build with short greying hair.
A CON artist who lived a lavish lifestyle and used money from a fraud scam to start up a popular Birmingham restaurant has been jailed.
His character is a con artist and escape artist, who breaks out of prison to be with me."
In this case, the con artist convinced the Ohio couple to send more than $2,000 after he claimed to have found a buyer for the couple's time-share unit.
But when the cheque finally bounced, the con artist could not be traced.
The actress, 34, stars as thief and con artist Letty Dobesh in upcoming US series Good Behaviour.
A CON artist who began a prolonged fraud spree when he was just 13 was caged for six months yesterday.
Last night, Bill, 70, from Peebles, said: 'As a highly experienced con artist myself, I'm embarrassed to now find myself in the position of possibly being conned out of the royalties of such a successful series.'
Leonardo DiCaprio takes fifth place in Catch Me if You Can (2002), the true story of con artist Frank Abagnale Jr, who poses as everything from a pilot to an attorney while forging cheques and evading the FBI.
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