con

To trick someone into giving you money or doing something that benefits you.

• That man conned me.
• They conned her out of her savings.
• He conned us into paying for a useless service.

How to use it: con someone out of something (The caller conned him out of two hundred pounds.); con someone into doing something (She conned me into buying a broken phone.)

Similar words: trick, cheat, swindle, deceive

Common phrases: con someone, con someone into, con someone out

A disadvantage or reason against choosing or doing something.

• The main con is the price.
• We discussed the pros and cons of moving.
• One con of this plan is the long journey.

How to use it: a con of something (One con of living here is the noise.)

Similar words: disadvantage, drawback, downside

Opposites: pro, advantage

Common phrases: a major con, a possible con, the main con

A dishonest trick used to get money or another advantage from someone.

• The offer was a con.
• She lost her savings in an online con.
• The police uncovered several cons involving fake tickets.

Similar words: scam, fraud, swindle

Common phrases: a clever con, con trick, an elaborate con

A person who has been found guilty of a crime, especially someone in prison.

• The con escaped last night.
• Two cons shared a small cell.
• He hired a former con to repair the roof.

Similar words: convict

Common phrases: escaped con, former con, con in prison

A change to part of a building so it can be used in a different way.

• Our loft con starts next month.
• The builders quoted a price for the attic con.
• A loft con gave us another bedroom.

Similar words: conversion

Common phrases: loft con, attic con

A person who supports conservative political ideas or a conservative party.

• He calls himself a con.
• The cons opposed the proposed tax increase.
• She debated a con about immigration policy.

Similar words: conservative

Common phrases: a committed con, con voters