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Bunco - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Bunco is a simple dice game typically played in teams, involving luck and quick scoring. It is also slang for a scam or swindle, meaning to cheat or deceive someone.

bunco

/ˈbʌŋkoʊ/ /ˈbʌŋkəʊ/

Definition:

A swindling game or scheme, often involving trickery or fraud.

Synonyms:

scam, swindle, con, fraud

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

honesty, truthfulness

Common Collocations:

bunco squad, bunco game, bunco artist

Derivatives:

buncoed, buncoing

Usage Tips:

Use "bunco" to describe a fraudulent scheme or as a verb meaning to swindle someone.

Common Phrases:

bunco game, run a bunco, bunco artist

Etymology:

Originated in 19th-century America, possibly from Spanish "banco" (bank), referring to gambling frauds.

Examples:

  • 1. He fell victim to a clever bunco scheme last week.
  • 2. The police arrested the man for running a bunco operation downtown.
  • 3. She realized too late that the investment was just a bunco.
  • 4. They played a friendly game of bunco at the community center.

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