verb
- to trick or deceive someone, especially in order to get money or something else of value
Usage: informal; chiefly American
Examples
- The salesman tried to hornswoggle me into buying an extended warranty.
- Don’t let those smooth talkers hornswoggle you out of your savings.
- She felt hornswoggled when she discovered the antique was a fake.
- The con artist hornswoggled several elderly residents with his fake charity.
- I won’t be hornswoggled by their fancy marketing tricks.
- He hornswoggled his way into getting a free meal at the restaurant.