Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To deceive or dupe; hoodwink. synonym: deceive.
- transitive verb To confuse; bewilder.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To hoax; deceive; trick; impose upon.
- To perplex; mystify.
- To use trickery; practise cheating.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb colloq. To deceive by trickery; to cajole by confusing the senses; to hoax; to mystify; to humbug.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb informal To
con ,defraud ,trick , to make afool of, tohumbug orimpose onsomeone .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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As someone who has seen and used those words -- especially "bamboozle" -- in appellate legal briefs, I find that surprising.
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As someone who has seen and used those words -- especially "bamboozle" -- in appellate legal briefs, I find that surprising.
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Another attempt by Republican Obstructionists to "bamboozle" the American taxpayers.
Obama touts financial reform, says GOP stance 'deceptive' 2010
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If Obama gets the nomination, the issues will not matter to me, who cares about war, taxes and the economy, or abortion rights only the fact the my candidate was beaten fairly by some "uppity newcomer" who was able to somehow "bamboozle" the majority of democratic primary voters.
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Now she has her wealthy bully supporters making threats to the Democrats if they don't support her in trying to "bamboozle" this election.
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I use "bamboozle" all the time, because no other word really captures the essence of a snake-oil con-job quite as perfectly.
Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009
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It's too quaint to be seen as overly nasty - the Clintons are trying to "bamboozle" you, not you're being lied to.
Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009
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I'm not sure "okey-doke" "bamboozle" and "hoodwink" are the hippest terms to use, but I suppose he is speaking to a diverse audience, and Clinton has been claiming the senior vote, so, sure why not.
Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009
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I'm not sure "okey-doke" "bamboozle" and "hoodwink" are the hippest terms to use, but I suppose he is speaking to a diverse audience, and Clinton has been claiming the senior vote, so, sure why not.
Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009
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| Reply | Permalink anybody who thinks "bamboozle" is "a black thing," or somehow "code" aimed at African-Americans, has obviously missed years of Josh Marshal's coverage of GOP "Bamboozlement (tm) (c)" ever since at least 2004, if not since the site started. get a clue, people.
Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009
sionnach commented on the word bamboozle
to confuse a panda
February 20, 2007
lilacs524 commented on the word bamboozle
Makes me think of Friends - Joey is hosting a gameshow by this name... "Sorry, you've been... BAMBOOZLED."
February 23, 2007
uselessness commented on the word bamboozle
Any word that starts with bam is alright in my book. Reminds me of the Flintstones' kid, Bamm-Bamm.
Hmm... perhaps an idea for another list? Anyone? After the -tory mess I sure as heck ain't touching it.
February 23, 2007
yarb commented on the word bamboozle
"Look here, friend," said I, "if you have anything important to tell us, out with it; but if you are only trying to bamboozle us, you are mistaken in your game..."
- Melville, Moby-Dick, ch. 19
July 24, 2008
artbizness commented on the word bamboozle
I love this word - it's quite popular on the Indian subcontinent apparently.
September 18, 2008