deceptive moves

Meaning

1. 1nounplural

   actions intended to mislead someone, especially feints used to make an opponent react wrongly.

   Grammar: Plural only in this form; the singular is 'a deceptive move'.

   Patterns

   • deceptive moves are common in something
   • use deceptive moves
   • a series of deceptive moves

   Deceptive moves are common in basketball, where a fake pass can freeze a defender.

   The report described a series of deceptive moves by the company to hide its losses.

   Skilled players combine speed with deceptive moves to beat their markers.

Word forms

Common combinations

use deceptive moves

Good attackers use deceptive moves to create space.

a series of deceptive moves

The investigation uncovered a series of deceptive moves by senior staff.

deceptive moves are common in something

Deceptive moves are common in tennis and boxing.

practise deceptive moves

The team practised deceptive moves for an hour before the match.

Synonyms and how they differ

feints

Feints is the specialist sporting term and is slightly more technical than deceptive moves.

tricks

Tricks is more informal and can describe harmless fun, not only attempts to mislead.

Word family

deceive verb

to make someone believe something untrue

deception noun

the act of misleading someone

deceptive adjective

likely to mislead or give a false impression

Commonly confused: deceptive moves or decisive moves?

Practice

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