subtlety, artificiality; maneuvering &c v.; temporization;
circumvention.
chicane, chicanery; sharp practice, knavery, jugglery†; concealment
&c 528; guile, doubling, duplicity &c (falsehood) 544; foul play.
diplomacy, politics; Machiavelism; jobbery, backstairs influence.
art, artifice; device, machination; plot &c (plan) 626; maneuver,
stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile; trick, trickery &c
(deception) 545; ruse, ruse de guerre [Fr.]; finesse, side blow, thin
end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion; white lie &c
(untruth) 546; juggle, tour de force; tricks of the trade, tricks upon
travelers; espieglerie [Fr.]; net, trap &c 545.
Ulysses, Machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard; Scotchman; Jew,
Yankee; intriguer, intrigant†; floater [U.S.], Indian giver [U.S.],
keener [U.S.], repeater [U.S.].
V. be cunning &c adj.; have cut one's eyeteeth; contrive &c (plan) 626;
live by one's wits; maneuver; intrigue, gerrymander, finesse, double,
temporize, stoop to conquer, reculer pour mieux sauter [Fr.],
circumvent, steal a march upon; overreach &c 545; throw off one's
guard; surprise &c 508; snatch a verdict; waylay, undermine, introduce
the thin end of the wedge; play a deep game, play tricks with; ambiguas
in vulgum spargere voces [Lat.]; flatter, make things pleasant; have an
ax to grind.
dodge, sidestep, bob and weave.
Adj. cunning, crafty, artful; skillful &c 698; subtle, feline, vulpine;
cunning as a fox, cunning as a serpent; deep, deep laid; profound;
designing, contriving; intriguing &c v.; strategic, diplomatic,
politic, Machiavelian, timeserving†; artificial; tricky, tricksy†; wily,
sly, slim, insidious, stealthy; underhand &c (hidden) 528; subdolous†;
deceitful &c 545; slippery as an eel, evasive &c 623; crooked; arch,
pawky†, shrewd, acute; sharp, sharp as a tack, sharp as a needle†;
canny, astute, leery, knowing, up to snuff, too clever by half, not to
be caught with chaff.
tactful, diplomatic, politic; polite &c 894.
Adv. cunningly &c adj.; slyly, slily†, on the sly, by a side wind.
Phr. diamond cut diamond; a' bis ou a blanc [Fr.]; fin contre fin
[Fr.]; something is rotten in the state of Denmark [Hamlet].