con
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Related to cons: Pros and Cons, Best Buy
(with) all mod cons
(With) all the amenities of a pleasant and comfortable dwelling. "Mod cons" is an abbreviation for "modern conveniences." Primarily heard in UK. Come on, Mom, can we stay at a place with all mod cons for once? Or at least one where the power isn't constantly going off? A: "There's no way this hotel is going to have all mod cons, not with Uncle Jack footing the bill." B: "I know, he's such a cheapskate." I thought you said this place came with all mod cons? There's not even a dishwasher!
con (someone) into (something)
To trick or deceive someone into doing something. I can't believe that guy conned you into loaning him hundreds of dollars. They'll never con me into a bogus business deal! Mom, please don't let Rich con you into funding another one of his cockamamie schemes.
See also: con
con (someone) out of (something)
To obtain something from someone through deception. I can't believe that shady salesman conned you out of hundreds of dollars. I'm confident that we can con that sweet old lady out of her diamond necklace. I know what this property is really worth, pal, so you're not going to con me out of it for a song!
con artist
1. A person who exploits the vulnerability of others for their own sake by manipulating and taking advantage of their confidence (the act of which is known as a confidence trick or game). It is the common abbreviation of the full term, "confidence artist." Be wary of con artists who send emails claiming to be a bank or some other trustworthy establishment: they often ask for your personal bank details to have access to your finances. The con artist talked him out of his entire life's savings with the promise of investing it in a surefire money-making scheme. A: "The CEO was found guilty of fraud." B: "What a surprise—another billionaire con artist thinking he can get away with anything."
2. By extension, a person who is skilled at duplicity, cajolery, or self-serving manipulation or persuasion. John is such a con artist, always convincing others to pay for him on nights out under the pretense that he'll "pay them back later." I'm not surprised that con artist didn't do his half of the project as promised. I have no idea why the boss keeps him around. Mom, Rich is still the same con artist he's always been. Do not give him any money.
con job
Something that swindles or deceives someone. That offer really was too good to be true—it turned out to be a con job that cost us thousands. Mom, please don't get suckered into funding another one of Rich's obvious con jobs. A: "The CEO was found guilty of fraud." B: "What a surprise—another con job by a billionaire who thinks he can get away with anything."
con man
1. A man who exploits the vulnerability of others for his own sake by manipulating and taking advantage of their confidence (the act of which is known as a confidence trick or game). It is the common abbreviation of the full term, "confidence man." Be wary of con men who send emails claiming to be a bank or some other trustworthy establishment: they often ask for your personal bank details so as to have access to your finances. The con man talked him out of his entire life's savings with the promise of investing it in a surefire money-making scheme. A: "The CEO was found guilty of fraud." B: "What a surprise—another billionaire con man who thinks he can get away with anything."
2. By extension, a man who is skilled at duplicity, cajolery, or self-serving manipulation or persuasion. John is such a con man, always convincing others to pay for him on nights out under the pretense that he'll "pay them back later." I'm not surprised that con man didn't do his half of the project as promised. I have no idea why the boss keeps him around. Mom, Rich is still the same con man he's always been. Do not give him any money.
et con.
A shortening of the Latin phrase et conjunx, meaning "and husband," used in law to indicate the implicit inclusion of a woman's husband, as in a legal document or case. The property was transferred by deed to Virginia Smith et con. on 03 June, 1998. The Supreme Court Case "Richardson et con. v. Colorado" was decided with a unanimous 7–0 verdict in favor of the plaintiff. When reached for comment, Mrs. Richardson said she was overjoyed with the result. My wife is the one who comes from money, so you might as well put her name "et con." on the deed.
See also: ET
pros and cons
The various positive ("pros") and negative ("cons") aspects of something; the advantages or disadvantages of something. Any time I have to make a tough decision, I take a moment to consider the pros and cons. There are of course both pros and cons to this approach, but we feel that the benefits greatly outweigh the negatives.
put a con on (one)
To swindle, deceive, or dupe one; to exploit one through fraudulent or deceptive means. The company was caught trying to put a con on its customers by tricking them into paying for plans with higher usage fees for services that cost the company much less to provide. He's putting a con on you, Mary—he's just after your money, nothing else.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
con someone into something
to deceive someone into doing something. The dishonest contractor conned her into buying a new furnace even when her old one was fine. You are just conning yourself into believing your plan will work.
See also: con
con someone out of something
to trick someone out of money or something of value. Anne conned her little sister out of her allowance. Dave conned me out of my autographed baseball.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
confidence game
Also, confidence trick; con game. A swindle in which the victim is defrauded after his or her trust has been won. For example, The police warned of a confidence game in which people were asked to turn over valuables for a so-called appraisal , or The typical confidence trick is easy to spot if you know what to look for, or I almost let myself be taken in by her con game-she seemed so sincere. These terms, which use confidence in the sense of "trust," date from the mid-1800s. They also gave rise to confidence man (or con man) for the swindler.
See also: confidence, game
pros and cons
Arguments or considerations for and against something, as in We'd best weigh all the pros and cons before we decide to add a new wing to the library. This idiom is taken from the Latin pro for "for" and con for "against." [Late 1500s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
the pros and cons
the arguments for and against something; the advantages and disadvantages of something.Pro is Latin for ‘for’; con is an abbreviation of Latin contra , meaning ‘against’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
(with) all mod ˈcons
(British English, informal) used to describe a house or flat/apartment that has all the things that make living there easier and more comfortable, for example a washing machine, a shower, etc: From the outside it looks rather old, but inside it’s got all mod cons — even a microwave oven. ♢ We want a campsite with all mod cons.This phrase is a short form of ‘modern conveniences’.
the ˌpros and ˈcons (of something)
the arguments for and against something; the advantages and disadvantages (of something): Your idea is interesting, but let’s look carefully at its pros and cons before we take any decisions.This expression comes from the Latin words pro, meaning ‘for’, and contra, meaning ‘against’.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
con
1. n. a convict. Is that guy in the gray pajamas one of the escaped cons?
2. n. a confidence scheme. They pulled a real con on the old lady.
3. tv. to swindle or deceive someone. Don’t try to con me. I know the score.
con job
n. an act of deception. This is not an annual report! It’s a con job!
con man
and con artist n. someone who makes a living by swindling people. Gary is a con artist, but at least he’s not on the dole. I was taken by a real con man!
con artist
verbSee con man
put a con on someone
tv. to attempt to deceive someone; to attempt to swindle someone. (Underworld.) Don’t try to put a con on me, Buster! I’ve been around too long.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.