sleight of hand

noun phrase

1

a

: a cleverly executed trick or deception

b

: a conjuring trick requiring manual dexterity

2

a

: skill and dexterity in conjuring tricks

b

: adroitness in deception

Examples of sleight of hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a sequence near the end that is both graceful and devastating in equal measure, a bit of directorial sleight of hand that aims right for your heart and hits the bull’s-eye. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2024

Watching her play was like watching a musician pull off increasingly sophisticated sleights of hand, but what truly distinguished Williams wasn’t the spectacle of her performance but the clarity of her compositions. —Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024

In this scenario, your AC unit would be engaged in a gentle sleight of hand. —Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2024

And right up to his final sleight of hand, Hartnett maniacally laughing, his sneer bringing us back to that final shot of Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s 1960 movie. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

sleight of hand

1

: skill especially in juggling or magic tricks

2

: a magic or juggling trick requiring skill with the hands