Bamboozle
verb
To cheat or trick someone.
He bamboozled his little brother into doing his chores for him.
Often appears as...
- bamboozle someone into
- bamboozle someone out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To confuse someone, often by making things complicated.
The legal jargon in the contract was designed to bamboozle the average person.
Often appears as...
- bamboozle someone with
- get bamboozled by
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To cheat or trick someone.
He bamboozled his little brother into doing his chores for him.
Often appears as...
- bamboozle someone into
- bamboozle someone out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb
To confuse someone, often by making things complicated.
The legal jargon in the contract was designed to bamboozle the average person.
Often appears as...
- bamboozle someone with
- get bamboozled by
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Sly Trick
Bamboozle implies a cunning or sly trick, often playful or not very harmful.
He managed to bamboozle his friends into swapping their snacks for his apple.
Pro Tip 2/3Conversational
Preferably used in casual, conversational English rather than in formal writing or speaking.
I can't believe I let myself get bamboozled into attending that sales event.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Humorous
Bamboozle can be used humorously to describe being tricked in a light-hearted situation.
The magician bamboozled the crowd with his impossible card tricks.
Pro Tip 1/3Sly Trick
Bamboozle implies a cunning or sly trick, often playful or not very harmful.
He managed to bamboozle his friends into swapping their snacks for his apple.
Pro Tip 2/3Conversational
Preferably used in casual, conversational English rather than in formal writing or speaking.
I can't believe I let myself get bamboozled into attending that sales event.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Humorous
Bamboozle can be used humorously to describe being tricked in a light-hearted situation.
The magician bamboozled the crowd with his impossible card tricks.
Pro Tip 1/3Sly Trick
Bamboozle implies a cunning or sly trick, often playful or not very harmful.
He managed to bamboozle his friends into swapping their snacks for his apple.
Pro Tip 2/3Conversational
Preferably used in casual, conversational English rather than in formal writing or speaking.
I can't believe I let myself get bamboozled into attending that sales event.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Humorous
Bamboozle can be used humorously to describe being tricked in a light-hearted situation.
The magician bamboozled the crowd with his impossible card tricks.
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Video examples
The beautiful math of...
alternative this is what it looks like it is a straight line and there's an infinite number of lines that go through the point and never meet the original line this is the drawing this nearly drove mathematicians bonkers because like you they're sitting there feeling bamboozled thinking how can that be
Video examples
The gospel of doubt PIPE...
again and again and again. I had been duped, hoodwinked, bamboozled. But this time, the false savior was me. You see, I've come a long way from that altar on the night I thought the world would end,
Video examples
The beautiful math of...
alternative this is what it looks like it is a straight line and there's an infinite number of lines that go through the point and never meet the original line this is the drawing this nearly drove mathematicians bonkers because like you they're sitting there feeling bamboozled thinking how can that be
Video examples
The gospel of doubt PIPE...
again and again and again. I had been duped, hoodwinked, bamboozled. But this time, the false savior was me. You see, I've come a long way from that altar on the night I thought the world would end,
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Debra Granik
American Director
I have, obviously, a very complex relationship with the more industrial side of filmmaking and the machinery that can take an actor or an actress and create something so bamboozling and monumental and fathomless in terms of publicity hits.
Quote examples
Ben Goldacre
British Writer
There is actually quite a lot of crossover between the quacks and drug companies. They use the same tricks and tactics to bamboozle people into buying their pills, but drug firms can afford to use slightly more sophisticated versions.
Quote examples
Mike Bartlett
I am not entirely off grid. I send a lot of email. But the way Facebook constantly alters its privacy settings to bamboozle you into giving more away is just underhand.
Quote examples
David Trezeguet
French Athlete
Having caught up with a myth like Sivori is something I will treasure forever. I am proud. He used to entertain and bamboozle defenders with his exceptional technique.
Quote examples
Martellus Bennett
American Athlete
When I won the Super Bowl I thought I was going to be, like, extremely happy. But then I really just felt like, 'Well, this is it?' I felt like I got bamboozled.
Quote examples
Nasser Hussain
British Athlete
Bowling was my natural skill. I didn't know how I was doing it, but I was spinning it miles and bamboozling people.
Quote examples
Josh Tillman
American Musician
I'm not bamboozled by the fact that people are disgusted by me. I'm not my biggest fan either.
Quote examples
Ilhan Omar
American Politician
I have a duty to teach my people about their rights and protect them from being bamboozled.
Quote examples
Debra Granik
American Director
I have, obviously, a very complex relationship with the more industrial side of filmmaking and the machinery that can take an actor or an actress and create something so bamboozling and monumental and fathomless in terms of publicity hits.
Quote examples
Ben Goldacre
British Writer
There is actually quite a lot of crossover between the quacks and drug companies. They use the same tricks and tactics to bamboozle people into buying their pills, but drug firms can afford to use slightly more sophisticated versions.
Quote examples
Mike Bartlett
I am not entirely off grid. I send a lot of email. But the way Facebook constantly alters its privacy settings to bamboozle you into giving more away is just underhand.
Quote examples
David Trezeguet
French Athlete
Having caught up with a myth like Sivori is something I will treasure forever. I am proud. He used to entertain and bamboozle defenders with his exceptional technique.
Quote examples
Martellus Bennett
American Athlete
When I won the Super Bowl I thought I was going to be, like, extremely happy. But then I really just felt like, 'Well, this is it?' I felt like I got bamboozled.
Quote examples
Nasser Hussain
British Athlete
Bowling was my natural skill. I didn't know how I was doing it, but I was spinning it miles and bamboozling people.
Quote examples
Josh Tillman
American Musician
I'm not bamboozled by the fact that people are disgusted by me. I'm not my biggest fan either.
Quote examples
Ilhan Omar
American Politician
I have a duty to teach my people about their rights and protect them from being bamboozled.
Example 1 of 8
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