Flam

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. An old term for a deceptive trick or falsehood ; to mislead or swindle someone by trickery ; a drumming figure in which a soft grace note precedes the main beat
2. A piece of deceit or nonsense meant to fool someone ; to cheat a person through deception ; a rudiment played on a drum with a light grace note just before a stroke
3. A cunning hoax or lie used to dupe others ; the act of tricking a person into believing something false ; a drum technique pairing a quieter tap with an accented beat

Etymology: "Flam" entered English in the 17th century, and it is best understood as a back-formation from "flim-flam," a word for a trick or piece of nonsense. The two words share a sense of deception through empty talk, and the noun "flam" came to mean a deceitful story or a sham, while the verb developed the sense of misleading someone with such a story. The ultimate origin of "flim-flam" is uncertain. It may come from a dialect word, or it may be linked to Scandinavian sources, with a comparison often drawn to Old Norse "flim," meaning a lampoon or mockery. Its sound is probably imitative, built from the repeated, light, bouncing syllables that suggest something flimsy and unreliable.

Synonyms: deceit, trick, hoax, ruse, con

Antonyms: truth, honesty