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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other Texans will be upset that sports betting has come to the state not through the ballot box, but through some regulatory sleight of hand. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025 Just as Manning accelerated his growth through obsessive attention to detail, studying defenses and the sleight of hand of play-action artists like Boomer Esiason, Nix is more than willing to get bleary-eyed in the film room or pick the brain of future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025 In that sleight of hand lies Netanyahu’s method: clarity would force a choice, while ambiguity keeps every option open. Yonatan Touval, Time, 22 Aug. 2025 Bessent’s sleight of hand makes Treasury bond funds like the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) attractive. Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sleight of hand

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sleight of hand was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sleight of hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleight%20of%20hand. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

sleight of hand

1
: skill especially in juggling or magic tricks
2
: a magic or juggling trick requiring skill with the hands
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