trick (redirected from tricks into)

*tricks of the trade

special skills and knowledge associated with any trade or profession. (*Typically: know ~; learn ~; show someone ~; teach someone ~.) I know a few tricks of the trade that make things easier. I learned the tricks of the trade from my uncle.

See also: trade

bag of tricks

Fig. a collection of special techniques or methods. What have you got in your bag of tricks that could help me with this problem? Here comes Mother with her bag of tricks. I'm sure she can help us.

See also: bag

do the trick

to do exactly what is needed. This new paint scraper really does the trick. Is this envelope large enough to do the trick?

How's tricks?

Inf. a greeting inquiry. Bob: Fred! How's tricks? Fred: How are you doing, Bob? Bob: Doing great! Bill: What's up? How's tricks? Bob: I can't complain. How are things going for you? Bill: Can't complain.

know a trick or two

to know some special way of dealing with a problem. I think I can handle all of this with no trouble. I know a trick or two. I may be a senior citizen, but I still know a trick or two. I think I can help you with this.

See also: know, two

miss a trick

Fig. to miss an opportunity or chance. (*Typically with the negative.) She hardly ever misses a trick. Mr. Big never misses a trick. How did a smart guy like you miss a trick like that?

See also: miss

play a trick on someone and play a prank on someone

to do a trick that affects someone. Somebody played a trick on me by hiding my shoes. The little boys planned to play a trick on their teacher by turning up the heat in the classroom.

See also: play

play tricks on someone 

1. Lit. to pull pranks on someone. You had better not play any tricks on me! Stop playing tricks on people!

2. Fig. [for something, such as the eyes] to deceive someone. Did I see him fall down or are my eyes playing tricks on me? My brain is playing tricks on me. I can't remember a word you said.

See also: play

pull a stunt (on someone) and pull a trick (on someone)

to deceive someone; to play a trick on someone. Let's pull a trick on the teacher. Don't you dare pull a stunt like that!

See also: pull

There are tricks in every trade.

Prov. In every occupation, there are established ways of doing things. (See also the tricks of the trade.) John thought that he wouldn't have to learn much in order to wait tables. But there are tricks in every trade, and the experienced waiters were able to teach him a lot.

See also: every, trade

trick someone into (doing) something

to fool someone; to deceive someone; to cheat someone. The thief tricked John into giving him $10. Mary tricked her friends into paying for her dinner.

trick someone out of something and trick something out of someone

to get something from someone by trickery. You can't trick me out of my money. I'm not that dumb! Stay alert so that no one tricks you out of your money. They tricked the information out of Bob.

See also: out

trick or treat

Give me a treat of some kind or I will play a trick on you! (The formulaic expression said by children after they ring someone's doorbell and the door is answered on Halloween. It is now understood to mean simply that the child is requesting a treat of some kind—candy, fruit, popcorn, etc.) "Trick or treat!" cried Jimmy when the door opened. Mr. Franklin opened the door to find four very small children dressed like flowers standing silently on his doorstep. After a moment, he said, "Isn't anyone going to say 'Trick or treat'?"

See also: treat

turn a trick

Sl. to perform an act of prostitution. (Use caution with the topic.) She can turn a trick and be on the streets again in six minutes flat. She's upstairs, turning a trick.

See also: turn

use every trick in the book

Fig. to use every method possible. I used every trick in the book, but I still couldn't manage to get a ticket to the game Saturday. Bob tried to use every trick in the book, but he still failed.

See also: book, every, use

whole bag of tricks

Fig. everything; every possibility, argument, or technique. Well now. I've used my whole bag of tricks, and we still haven't solved this. It may take my whole bag of tricks to do it, but I'll try.

See also: bag, whole

You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Prov. Someone who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change. (Usually not polite to say about the person you are talking to; you can say it about yourself or about a third person.) I've been away from school for fifteen years; I can't go back to college now. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Kevin's doctor told him not to eat starchy food anymore, but Kevin still has potatoes with every meal. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

See also: cannot, dog, new, old, teach

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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

somebody'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 pull something out of the bag, be a bundle of nerves

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 (often + to do sth) He used every trick in the book to get her to sign the contract.

See miss a trick, turn a trick

See also: book, every

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: dog, new, old, teach

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do the trick

to achieve the desired result do the job 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, up