a clumsy, strange, apparatus

plan, fabrication

the act of causing a person to accept as true or genuine something that is false

practice of misleading

deliberate deception

deception

the process of avoiding something; an act, statement, excuse etc used to avoid something

escape, avoidance

a false or mistaken belief; false reasoning or argument

illusion, misconception

a pretence (the more usual word)

pretence

a delicate way of dealing with a situation

know-how, maneuver

(an act of) criminal dishonesty; a person who pretends to be qualified, to have authority or to want to be kind, but who is or does not

trickery, deception

a kind of opening move in chess; any first move

plan, plot

any trick, phrase, article of clothing etc used especially by actors, advertisers, to attract attention, customers etc

contrived object; scheme

clever deceit

slyness, cleverness

something imposed, e.g. a tax, burden, fine

deception

(an instance of) plotting secretly

scheme

(music for) a kind of quick, lively dance; an apparatus that holds a piece of work and guides the tools that are used on it

trick

an evil plot or scheme

maneuver, plot

a (group of) planned movements (of a person driving or operating a machine, or of an army etc)

move, tactic

a statement or conclusion that does not (seem to) have any connection to what was said or written before

fallacy

a piece of ground (usually small); a (secret) plan (good or bad) (to do something)

plan, scheme

something said or done to gain an advantage over a person

game, trick

a false claim or excuse made to deceive

falsehood, affected show; cover

an attempt to avoid an honest answer by using a secondary or doubtful meaning of a word or phrase; to argue about small points or differences

objection, complaint

a supply of goods, raw materials etc that a person, country etc has or can use; the ability to solve difficulties

supply drawn upon, either material or nonmaterial

a clever but deceitful way of doing something; trick

trick, deception

great skill in using the hand(s) to perform tricks, deceive etc

trick

(the use of) a trick to deceive a person

trick

the art of planning an activity, e.g. a war

plan of action

(an instance of) deceitful activity or behaviour

deception

an apparatus used for catching animals etc; a plan for deceiving a person or making a person say or do something; a light, two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse or pony

snare, trick

something done in order to deceive or done to make a person appear ridiculous; a practical joke; a feat of skill with the hands

deceit

tricks used to get something one wants

cunning