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
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
The dinner-theater experience Spellbound by Magic Castle was created with the famed Hollywood venue and features pro magicians wowing the crowd with sleight of hand tricks.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2024
Take the most surprising part of Brat, the album: Despite its club-ready beats and confrontational attitude, many of the songs perform a sleight of hand, their lyrics earnestly delving into XCX’s worries even as her voice conveys total confidence.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for 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
The dinner-theater experience Spellbound by Magic Castle was created with the famed Hollywood venue and features pro magicians wowing the crowd with sleight of hand tricks.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2024
Take the most surprising part of Brat, the album: Despite its club-ready beats and confrontational attitude, many of the songs perform a sleight of hand, their lyrics earnestly delving into XCX’s worries even as her voice conveys total confidence.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sleight of hand
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sleight of hand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sleight of hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleight%20of%20hand. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
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