Shell Game: Difference between revisions
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== Real Life == |
== Real Life == |
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* The original of the phrase is from a form of gambling where the "dealer" hides a small item under a shell or cup or other device identical to two others, then quickly moves them so that whoever's watching can't tell which it was under. The player then picks one; if the item is under it, he wins. However, the point of a shell game is that with some quick sleight of hand, the "house" ensures the player wins the first round by putting an item under all three. In following games, a similar trick ensures the item isn't under ''any'' of them, and the dealer always wins. |
* The original of the phrase is from a form of gambling where the "dealer" hides a small item under a shell or cup or other device identical to two others, then quickly moves them so that whoever's watching can't tell which it was under. The player then picks one; if the item is under it, he wins. However, the point of a shell game is that with some quick sleight of hand, the "house" ensures the player wins the first round by putting an item under all three. In following games, a similar trick ensures the item isn't under ''any'' of them, and the dealer always wins. |
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** It's also done with thimbles, which is why it was previously known as "thimblerig". And that is why "thimblerigger" usually means "swindler". |
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* The President of the United States when traveling by helicopter. [[Air Force One|Three or four identical helicopters are used so no outsider knows which one he is on]]. They also sometimes use several identical presidential limousines in motorcades. |
* The President of the United States when traveling by helicopter. [[Air Force One|Three or four identical helicopters are used so no outsider knows which one he is on]]. They also sometimes use several identical presidential limousines in motorcades. |
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* In three-card monte, one of the real purposes of the game is to distract players so that a confederate in the audience can pickpocket them. Such a person is known as The Dip, or sometimes a "cutpurse" if you're in some sort of [[Epic Fantasy]]. |
* In three-card monte, one of the real purposes of the game is to distract players so that a confederate in the audience can pickpocket them. Such a person is known as The Dip, or sometimes a "cutpurse" if you're in some sort of [[Epic Fantasy]]. |
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