trick (redirected from tricks)

someone's bag of tricks

all the clever methods by which someone achieves something. It remains to be seen what this side will pull out of their bag of tricks for the semi-final.

See also: bag

a dirty trick

a dishonest action. He resigned after allegations of dirty tricks during the election campaign. Telling her you needed the money for a friend was a dirty trick.

See also: dirty

do the trick (informal)

if something does the trick, it achieves what you want or need. If the sauce tastes a bit sour, add a teaspoon of sugar - that should do the trick.

every trick in the book

every clever or dishonest way that you know to achieve something that you want. He used every trick in the book to get her to sign the contract. (often + to do something)

See also: book, every

not miss a trick

to not fail to notice and use a good opportunity. You can rely on Sarah to get what she wants, she never misses a trick.

See also: miss

the oldest trick in the book

a way of tricking someone which is still effective although it has been used a lot before. It was the oldest trick in the book - one man distracted me while another stole my wallet.

See also: book, old

tricks of the trade

clever methods that help you to do a job better or faster. As a journalist, you learn the tricks of the trade pretty quickly or you don't survive.

See also: trade

turn a trick (American, very informal)

to have sex with someone for money. She'd been known to turn a trick when she needed a few dollars.

See also: turn

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

something that you say which means it is difficult to make someone change the way they do something when they have been doing it the same way for a long time. You're never going to teach your father at the age of 79 to use a computer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, you know.

See also: can't, dog, new, old, teach

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do the trick

to achieve the desired result. At first my brother didn't want to help out, but a phone call from my wife did the trick and he showed up the next morning.

every trick in the book

every way possible. He tried every trick in the book to get her to sign the contract.

Usage notes: usually said about an attempt to deceive someone

See also: book, every

the oldest trick in the book

a way of deceiving someone that is not new. It was the oldest trick in the book — one man distracted me while another stole my wallet.

See also: book, old

tricks of the trade

methods that help you to do a job better or faster. As a journalist, you learn the tricks of the trade pretty quickly or you don't get your stories.

See also: trade

up to your/its old tricks

doing something you or it has done before. House Republicans are up to their old tricks again, promising to cut taxes for everyone and then giving most of the tax cuts to the very wealthy.

Usage notes: usually said about an attempt to deceive someone

See also: old