Legerdemain

/lej-ur-duh-MAYN/

हाथ की सफाई (haath ki safai) / जादूगरी (jadoogari)

Advanced Literary

Meanings

  1. Skillful use of one's hands when performing magic tricks
  2. Trickery or deception
  3. Sleight of hand

Example Sentences

  • "The street magician's legerdemain amazed the crowd at India Gate."
  • "The financial legerdemain in the company's accounts went undetected for years."
  • "With a bit of legerdemain, the politician managed to avoid answering the direct question."

Etymology

From Middle French 'leger de main' (light of hand), from 'leger' (light, nimble — from Latin 'levis') + 'de' (of) + 'main' (hand — from Latin 'manus'). Literally 'lightness of hand'.

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