noun
underhand commercial or political behavior designed to discredit an opponent
• Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form
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—dirty-trickery /derr"tee trik"euh ree/, n. —dirty-tricks, adj. —dirty-trickster /derr"tee trik"steuhr/, n.
Informal.
1. Politics. unethical or illegal campaign practices or pranks intended to disrupt or sabotage the campaigns of opposing candidates.
2. any similar practices carried out against rival countries or corporations for espionage or commercial purposes.
[1970-75]
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dirty tricks UK US noun [plural]
dishonest ways of defeating or harming an opponent, especially in politics
Thesaurus: tricks, pretences and dishonest planssynonym
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dirty tricks,
U.S. underhanded activities and practices to achieve political gain: »
economic and psychological subversion of the…government, including such dirty tricks as introducing counterfeit money (Time).
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noun [plural]
: secret and dishonest activities that are done to ruin someone's or something's chance of success
political dirty tricks
Useful english dictionary. 2012.