legerdemain
noun

- skilful hiding of the truth in order to trick people

- skilful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks

- sleight of hand

- legerdemain can be used literally to describe a magic trick, or figuratively to describe some other kind of trickery or deceit

The Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Languages, Merriam-Webster, Voabulary.com

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WORD PHRASE ORIGIN

“Legerdemain" which comes from Middle French léger de main (light of hand), breaks down as follows: léger means "light" (in the sense of nimble/quick), de means "of”, and main means "hand”.

The original meaning of Legerdemain was purely physical: literal quick-handedness or manual dexterity. It entered English in the 14th century when French was still the language of the English court.

The evolution of its meaning is interesting:

- Initially meant pure manual dexterity
- Became associated specifically with conjurors' tricks (sleight of hand)
- Broadened to mean any display of skillful deception or trickery
- Now can also refer metaphorically to any clever manipulation or deceptive practice

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FRENCH IN ENGLISH

- Bête noire = Something or someone that one particularly dislikes or dreads.

- Bon mot = A clever or witty remark; literally "good word."

- Bon vivant = A person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle, especially one who is particularly fond of good food and drink.

- C’est la vie = “That’s life” – an expression of resignation or acceptance of circumstances.

- Double entendre = A phrase or expression that can have two meanings, one of which is often risqué.

- Je ne sais quoi = An intangible, elusive quality that makes something or someone special.

- Parvenu = Someone who has recently risen to wealth or influence but lacks the associated refinement.

- Sang-froid = Composure or coolness shown in difficult circumstances.

- Savoir-faire = The ability to say or do the right or graceful thing in social situations; tact and grace.

- Tour de force = An impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished with great skill.

Although code-switching to French can make English sound more sophisticated, overuse can sound pretentious!

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SYNONYMS

abracadabra, adeptness, adroitness, agility, allurement, artifice, artfulness, artistry, beguilement, bewitchment, bluff, cheat, chicanery, cleverness, conjuring, craft, craftiness, cunning, deceit, deception, delusion, dexterity, duplicity, enchanting, feint, finesse, flimflam, foreboding, fortune-telling, fraud, guile, hanky-panky, hocus-pocus,  illusion, imposture, jiggery-pokery, jugglery, juggling, LEGERDEMAIN, magic, manipulation, maneuver, mastery, misdirection, mumbo jumbo, mystification, nimbleness, prestidigitation, proficiency, quickness, razzle-dazzle, ruse, skillfulness, sleight, sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors, stage magic, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile, wizardry

Note how these synonyms span several related but distinct meanings of legerdemain:

- Pure manual dexterity (dexterity, nimbleness)
- Magic performance (abracadabra, conjuring, hocus-pocus)
- Skillful deception (chicanery, subterfuge, trickery)
- General cleverness (adroitness, craft, finesse)

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