hornswoggle
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To deceive or trick.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Don't let them hornswoggle you into buying anything you don't need.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hornswoggle” mean?
To deceive or trick.
Is “hornswoggle” formal or informal?
hornswoggle is generally slang.