Phrase guide

three-card monte

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A confidence game in which the victim, or mark, is tricked into betting a sum of money that they can find the money card, for example the queen of hearts, among three face-down playing cards.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: find the lady, follow the bee, follow the lady, menage-a-card, three-card marney, three-card trick, three-way, three-card shuffle, triplets

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a gambling card game of Spanish origin; 3 or 4 cards are dealt face up and players bet that one of them will be matched before the others as the cards are dealt from the pack one at a time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: monte, four-card monte

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: card game, cards

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: bonneteau — confidence trick
  • German: Kümmelblättchen — confidence trick
  • Polish: trzy karty — confidence trick
  • Polish: trzy kubki — confidence trick
  • Polish: benkiel — confidence trick