gimmick
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gim·mick
(gĭm′ĭk)n.
1.
a. An innovative idea or stratagem that is used to attract attention or business but has little or no intrinsic value: "Mr. Freed tried every gimmick to attract customers, once even installing a traffic light in front of the restaurant to force cars to stop" (Sam Roberts).
b. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch: This deal seems too good to be true. What's the gimmick?
2.
a. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
b. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.
tr.v. gim·micked, gim·mick·ing, gim·micks
1. To add gimmicks to; clutter with gadgets or attention-getting details. Often used with up.
2. To change or affect by means of a gimmick.
[Origin unknown.]
gim′mick·y adj.
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.
gimmick
(ˈɡɪmɪk)n
1. something designed to attract extra attention, interest, or publicity
2. any clever device, gadget, or stratagem, esp one used to deceive
3. (Theatre) chiefly US a device or trick of legerdemain that enables a magician to deceive the audience
[C20: originally US slang, of unknown origin]
ˈgimmickry n
ˈgimmicky adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
gim•mick
(ˈgɪm ɪk)n.
1. an ingenious or novel device or stratagem, esp. one used to draw attention or increase appeal; stunt; ploy.
2. a concealed, usu. devious feature of something, as a plan or deal.
3. a hidden mechanical device by which a magician works a trick or a gambler controls a game of chance.
v.t. 4. to equip or embellish with unnecessary features (often fol. by up).
[1925–30]
gim′mick•y, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  gimmick - a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident; "it sounds good but what's the catch?"drawback - the quality of being a hindrance; "he pointed out all the drawbacks to my plan" |
| 2. |  gimmick - something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known; "she eased the ball-shaped doodad back into its socket"; "there may be some great new gizmo around the corner that you will want to use"doodad, doohickey, doojigger, gismo, gizmo, gubbins, thingamabob, thingamajig, thingmabob, thingmajig, thingumabob, thingumajig, thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatchamacallum, whatsis, widget stuff - miscellaneous unspecified objects; "the trunk was full of stuff" | |
| 3. | gimmick - any clever maneuver; "he would stoop to any device to win a point"; "it was a great sales gimmick"; "a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen" mnemonic - a device (such as a rhyme or acronym) used to aid recall |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
gimmick
noun stunt, trick, device, scheme, manoeuvre, dodge, ploy, gambit, stratagem, contrivance It's just a public relations gimmick.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
gimmick
noun1. An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end:
artifice, deception, device, dodge, feint, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, wile.
Informal: shenanigan, take-in.
2. A small specialized mechanical device:
Slang: gizmo.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حيلَه أو وسيلَه لِلَفْت الأنْظار
chytáknápadtrik
fidus
reklámfogás
brella
su triukaistriukas
triks
gimmick
gimmick
[ˈgɪmɪk] N → truco m publicitario; (= gadget) → artilugio mit's just a sales gimmick → es un truco para vender más
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
gimmick
[ˈgɪmɪk] n → truc msales gimmick → astuce f pour faire vendre
It's just a public relations gimmick
BUT C'est juste un artifice de relations publiques.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
gimmick
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
gimmick
(ˈgimik) noun something used to attract attention to something or someone. an advertising gimmick.
ˈgimmicky adjectiveKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.