gimmick

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English

Etymology

Unknown. Possibly a rough anagram of magic or from gimme.

Pronunciation

Noun

gimmick (plural gimmicks)

  1. A trick or device used to attain some end.
    The box had a gimmick to make the coin appear to vanish.
    • April 19 2012, Scott Tobias, “Fightville”, in AV Club:
      Epperlein and Tucker focus on two featherweight hopefuls: Dustin Poirier, a formidable contender who’s looking to parlay a history of schoolyard violence and street-fighting into a potential career, and Albert Stainback, a more thoughtful yet more erratic and undisciplined fighter whose chief gimmick is entering the ring wearing a hat like the one Malcolm McDowell wore in A Clockwork Orange.
    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:
      Rear Admiral Mikhailovich: I don't begrudge the politicians' decision to throw you to the Council. It's an... opportunity. I do begrudge this overdesigned piece of tin, though.
      Shepard: The Normandy is a fine ship, sir. She's served us well so far.
      Rear Admiral Mikhailovich: It's a gimmick, Commander. Useless in a stand-up fight.
      Rear Admiral Mikhailovich: This experiment diverted billions from our apportions bills. For the same price, we could've had a heavy cruiser.
      Rear Admiral Mikhailovich: But no, we had to make nice to the turians. Throw money at a co-developed boondoggle.
  2. A ploy or strategy used to attract attention or gain traction.
    The contest was a gimmick to get people to sign up for their mailing list.
  3. (electronics) A gimmick capacitor.
  4. (Philippines) A night out with one's friends.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

gimmick (third-person singular simple present gimmicks, present participle gimmicking, simple past and past participle gimmicked)

  1. To rig or set up with a trick or device.
    The magician's box was gimmicked with a wire that made it appear to open on its own.

Translations

Chinese

Etymology

From English gimmick.

Pronunciation


Noun

gimmick

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) gimmick

Adjective

gimmick

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) gimmicky
    gimmick [Cantonese]  ―  gim1 mik4 je5   ―  things with gimmicks

References

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English gimmick.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡi.mik/
    • Audio (Quebec, Mauricie, Shawinigan, vernacular French):(file)

Noun

gimmick m (plural gimmicks)

  1. gimmick