A person who is very skilled at playing card games, often using tricks to win
Examples:
Spotting a card shark at the casino is no easy feat.Rumors spread that she was the best card shark in town.He learned all the tricks to become a renowned card shark.
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Cardsharp
A person who is skilled at cheating at card games.
Examples:
The sly cardsharp tricked everyone at the casino.His reputation as a cardsharp kept players on edge.Police suspected him of being a notorious cardsharp.
Synonyms:
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Ways to tell them apart:
Card shark tends to be the more popular, modern expression in American English, while cardsharp is often used in British English.
Both refer to someone skilled at cards, but cardsharp can imply deceit or trickery more than card shark.
When you think of card shark, imagine a shark circling prey, indicating someone who's very good at card games.
Cardsharp might make you think of someone sharp or cunning, emphasizing trickery.
To remember: both terms imply skill, but cardsharp carries a slightly more negative connotation.