Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

shell game

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.37 in modern English

Syllables: shel-l game
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess which of three small cups (or shells) a pea-sized object is concealed under, after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery.

noun

Any confidence scheme, especially one involving the rapid movement of investment funds to a location beyond recovery.

Example Sentences

"Another common form of short con is the shell game. This scam has the advantage of giving the criminal the ability to rip off many marks all at one location."

Inflected Forms

shell games (plural)

Phrases

three-card monte

Frequently Paired Words

three-card monte

Synonyms

thimblerig

Questions

What does shell game mean?: A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess which of three small cups (or shells) a pea-sized object is concealed under, after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery.

How to pronounce shell game

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