English Explanatory Dictionary

finagle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect, complicated and/or intensive efforts.
  2. To obtain, arrange, or achieve by deceitful methods, by trickery.
  3. To cheat or swindle; to use crafty, deceitful methods. (often with "out of" preceding the object)

Pronunciation

/fɪˈneɪ.ɡəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-finagle.wav En-us-finagle.oga

Word forms

finagle finagles finagling finagled finangle phenagle

Etymology

Americanism from the 1920s, perhaps combining an alteration of fainaigue (“to renege”) with the suffix + -le (“frequentative”), possibly influenced by inveigle; compare haggle.

Synonyms

fainaigue wangle

Derived words

finagler

Translations

Chinese Mandarin: 騙取 /骗取 Dutch: ontfutselen Dutch: ritselen French: intriguer French: magouiller French: se faire pistonner German: erschleichen German: ermogeln Hungarian: becsap Hungarian: rászed Italian: fregare Polish: kombinować Polish: skombinować Spanish: enchufar
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