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Gyp vs Con - What's the difference?

gyp | con | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between gyp and con

is that gyp is a cheat or swindle; a rip-off while con is a disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).

As verbs the difference between gyp and con

is that gyp is to cheat or swindle someone of something inappropriately while con is to study, especially in order to gain knowledge of.

As a proper noun Con is

a male given name, a diminutive form of Conor or Cornelius.

As an initialism CON is

Certificate of Need.

gyp

English

Etymology 1

Probably from the term

Alternative forms

* gip, jip (eye dialect spellings)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (pejorative, sometimes, offensive) A cheat or swindle; a rip-off.
  • Why do we have to buy this new edition of the textbook when there’s almost no difference between it and the previous one? What a gyp !
    Usage notes
    Because this term is often considered to derive from the problematic exonymic term Gypsy'' and represent a racist stereotype of the Romani, it may be offensive. See the usage note about ''gypsy .

    Verb

    (gypp)
  • (pejorative, sometimes, offensive) To cheat or swindle someone of something inappropriately.
  • The cab driver gypped me out of ten bucks by taking the longer route.
    You better watch out; they'll try to gyp you if you don't know what you're doing.
    Usage notes
    See the notes about the noun, above.

    See also

    * jew down * welsh

    References

    * Gyp: Thieve, World Wide Words * Etymology of "Gyp" / "gypped", Vocaboly.com

    Etymology 2

    Perhaps the same as Etymology 1.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A college servant.
  • The room in which such college servants work.
  • A small kitchen for use by college students.
  • Etymology 3

    Shortening.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Gypsophila.
  • Etymology 4

    Perhaps from gee up .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Pain or discomfort.
  • ''My back's giving me gyp .

    con

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) connen, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (conn)
  • (rare) To study, especially in order to gain knowledge of.
  • * Wordsworth
  • Fixedly did look / Upon the muddy waters which he conned / As if he had been reading in a book.
  • * Burke
  • I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
  • * 1963 , D'Arcy Niland, Dadda jumped over two elephants: short stories :
  • The hawk rested on a crag of the gorge and conned the terrain with a fierce and frowning eye.''
  • (rare, archaic) To know, understand, acknowledge.
  • * 1579 , , Iune:
  • Of Muses Hobbinol, I conne no skill
  • to conduct the movements of a ship at sea.
  • Etymology 2

    Abbreviation of (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros ).
  • pros and cons
    Synonyms
    * disadvantage
    Antonyms
    * pro

    Etymology 3

    Shortened from (convict).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang) A convicted criminal, a convict.
  • Etymology 4

    From (con trick), shortened from (confidence trick).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (slang) A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.
  • Synonyms
    * See also

    Verb

    (conn)
  • (slang) To trick or defraud, usually for personal gain.
  • Synonyms
    * (to be conned) be sold a pup

    Etymology 5

    From earlier (cond), from (etyl) conduen, from (etyl) conduire, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • (nautical) To give the necessary orders to the helmsman to steer a ship in the required direction through a channel etc. (rather than steer a compass direction)
  • Noun

    (-)
  • (nautical) The navigational direction of a ship
  • Derived terms
    * conning tower * take the con

    Etymology 6

    or (conference).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An organized gathering such as a convention or conference.
  • See also

    * cone * mod cons