Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

subtlety, artificiality; maneuvering &c v.; temporization; circumvention. chicane, chicanery; sharp practice, knavery, jugglery†; concealment &c 528; guile, doubling, duplicity &c (falsehood) 544; foul play. diplomacy, politics; Machiavelism; jobbery, backstairs influence. art, artifice; device, machination; plot &c (plan) 626; maneuver, stratagem, dodge, sidestep, artful dodge, wile; trick, trickery &c (deception) 545; ruse, ruse de guerre [Fr.]; finesse, side blow, thin end of the wedge, shift, go by, subterfuge, evasion; white lie &c (untruth) 546; juggle, tour de force; tricks of the trade, tricks upon travelers; espieglerie [Fr.]; net, trap &c 545. Ulysses, Machiavel, sly boots, fox, reynard; Scotchman; Jew, Yankee; intriguer, intrigant†; floater [U.S.], Indian giver [U.S.], keener [U.S.], repeater [U.S.]. V. be cunning &c adj.; have cut one's eyeteeth; contrive &c (plan) 626; live by one's wits; maneuver; intrigue, gerrymander, finesse, double, temporize, stoop to conquer, reculer pour mieux sauter [Fr.], circumvent, steal a march upon; overreach &c 545; throw off one's guard; surprise &c 508; snatch a verdict; waylay, undermine, introduce the thin end of the wedge; play a deep game, play tricks with; ambiguas in vulgum spargere voces [Lat.]; flatter, make things pleasant; have an ax to grind. dodge, sidestep, bob and weave. Adj. cunning, crafty, artful; skillful &c 698; subtle, feline, vulpine; cunning as a fox, cunning as a serpent; deep, deep laid; profound; designing, contriving; intriguing &c v.; strategic, diplomatic, politic, Machiavelian, timeserving†; artificial; tricky, tricksy†; wily, sly, slim, insidious, stealthy; underhand &c (hidden) 528; subdolous†; deceitful &c 545; slippery as an eel, evasive &c 623; crooked; arch, pawky†, shrewd, acute; sharp, sharp as a tack, sharp as a needle†; canny, astute, leery, knowing, up to snuff, too clever by half, not to be caught with chaff. tactful, diplomatic, politic; polite &c 894. Adv. cunningly &c adj.; slyly, slily†, on the sly, by a side wind. Phr. diamond cut diamond; a' bis ou a blanc [Fr.]; fin contre fin [Fr.]; something is rotten in the state of Denmark [Hamlet].