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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
They were promised a story, a fiction, a sleight of hand, a shuffling of letters that altered reality. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024 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 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

Dictionary Entries Near sleight of hand

Cite this Entry

“Sleight of hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleight%20of%20hand. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sleight of hand

1
: skill especially in juggling or magic tricks
2
: a magic or juggling trick requiring skill with the hands
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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