Flimflam — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈflim-ˌflam/ flim·flam

Meaning & Definition of Flimflam

Flimflam (noun)

  1. deceptive nonsense
  2. deception, fraud

Flimflam (verb)

  1. to subject to a flimflam

Flimflam (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end

    "giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—in case of an emergency—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest"

    similar: artifice, device, dodge, fetch, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, ruse, scheme, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile, sleight of hand
    related: bluff, end run, feint, cheating, chicanery, cozenage, craft, crookery, cunning, deception, dupery, duplicity, fakery, jugglery, legerdemain, skulduggery, subterfuge, swindling, trickery, fraud, gaff, hoax, sham, swindle, blind, front, smoke screen

  2. an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value

    "just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information"

    similar: bunco, con, fiddle (chiefly British), fraud, hustle, scam, shell game, sting, swindle
    related: cross, fix, Ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme, racket, rip-off, thimblerig, three-card monte, device, dodge, gimmick, jig, ploy, scheme, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile, gouging, overcharging, soaking, counterfeit, fake, forgery, hoax, humbug, phony, sham

Flimflam (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone"

    similar: beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
    related: extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray, bitch, double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Flimflam

The most common words with a similar meaning to Flimflam:

Chiefly British: fiddle
Slang: hose
British slang: nobble
artifice, device, dodge, fetch, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, ruse, scheme, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile, bunco, con, fraud, hustle, scam, shell game, sting, swindle, sleight of hand, beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fleece

Related Words for Flimflam

bluff, end run, feint, cheating, chicanery, cozenage, craft, crookery, cunning, deception, dupery, duplicity, fakery, jugglery, legerdemain, skulduggery, subterfuge, swindling, trickery, hoax, sham, blind, front, smoke screen, cross, fix, Ponzi scheme, pyramid scheme, racket, rip-off

Word Forms of Flimflam

Inflections: flimflammed, flimflamming

Derived words: flimflammer (noun), flimflammery (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Flimflam

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flim mockery

First known use: circa 1538

Words & Phrases Containing Flimflam

flimflam artist/man

Frequently Asked Questions about Flimflam

What does "Flimflam" mean?

"Flimflam" means deceptive nonsense. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: deceptive nonsense. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Flimflam"?

Other words for "Flimflam" include artifice, device, dodge, fetch, gambit, gimmick, jig and juggle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Flimflam" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Flimflam"?

There are 124 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Flimflam". Common alternatives include artifice, device, dodge, fetch, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack and play.

How do you use "Flimflam" in a sentence?

Examples of "Flimflam" in a sentence: "giving the new guy at work her cell phone number—in case of an emergency—was just a flimflam to pique his romantic interest"; "just the latest Internet flimflam to get e-mail recipients to reveal bank account numbers and other personal information"; "everyone likes to think that they're too smart to be flimflammed by anyone".

Is "Flimflam" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Flimflam" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Flimflam"?

"Flimflam" is pronounced /ˈflim-ˌflam/ and divided into syllables as flim·flam.

What is the origin of the word "Flimflam"?

"Flimflam" comes from perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse flim mockery. First known use: circa 1538.

What is another word for "Flimflam" meaning "a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end"?

When "Flimflam" (noun) means a clever often underhanded means to achieve an end, synonyms include artifice, device, dodge, fetch, gambit and gimmick.