dirty tricks


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dirty tricks

pl.n. Informal
1. Covert intelligence operations designed to disrupt the economy or upset the political situation in another country.
2. Unethical behavior, especially acts undertaken to destroy the credibility or reputation of an opponent.
3. Commercial espionage.

dirty trickster n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dirt′y tricks′


n.pl.
1. unethical or illegal activities directed against political opponents, esp. during a campaign.
2. the covert activities of an intelligence agency.
[1970–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.dirty tricks - underhand commercial or political behavior designed to discredit an opponent
behavior, conduct, doings, behaviour - manner of acting or controlling yourself
plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
Perhaps you think I did you a dirty trick. running away as I did, Marija--"
Political dirty tricks' not a crime, Madigan's lawyers argue
Summary: New Delhi [India], Jun 22 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stating that the "dirty tricks department" of the party is out to derail the educational reforms in Delhi.
But when dirty tricks make fun of a serious issue such as the measles outbreak, then I have to condemn it as heartless and reckless.
Not even few hours have passed, but BJP/RSS dirty tricks department is at work in full swing," Sharmistha lashed out on Twitter as she shared the two pictures.
He accused the DAP of putting up the offensive billboards and banners as part of its dirty tricks.
It seems Sinn Fein have been first off the mark when it comes to the dirty tricks department but they've had decades of practice.
After learning of these efforts by the Cruz campaign, Carson described them as "dirty tricks," according to multiple media reports.
Speed fines by entrapment WHAT a scurrilous bunch our councillors are, and where better can you see their dirty tricks than on the Stockfield Road?
It is also the case that many parents are trying all manner of dirty tricks to try and get round the system, as revealed in this week's Post.
When the dirty tricks escalate from annoying to terrifying, May's secret sideline as the publisher of a line of sexy romance novels comes into play.
Parakh attacked the CBI for its investigation of the coal scam, the agency was slammed at its own function by the guest speaker, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who called the organisation the government's "hatchet" and "department of dirty tricks".