gim·mick

(gĭm′ĭk)

a. An innovative idea or stratagem that is used to attract attention or business but has little or no intrinsic value: "Mr. Freed tried every gimmick to attract customers, once even installing a traffic light in front of the restaurant to force cars to stop" (Sam Roberts).

b. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch: This deal seems too good to be true. What's the gimmick?

a. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.

b. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.

3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.

tr.v. gim·micked, gim·mick·ing, gim·micks

1. To add gimmicks to; clutter with gadgets or attention-getting details. Often used with up.

2. To change or affect by means of a gimmick.

[Origin unknown.]

gim′mick·y adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

مُسْتَعْملا حيلَه للفت الأنْظار

nápaditýtrikový

for smartfuld af fiduser

brellulegur

aldatıcıhileli

gimmicky

[ˈgɪmɪkɪ] ADJ → efectista

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gimmicky

[ˈgɪmɪki] adj → fantaisiste

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gimmicky

adj → effekthascherisch

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

gimmicky

[ˈgɪmɪkɪ] adj (fam) a gimmicky film → un film pieno di trovate ad effetto

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

gimmick

(ˈgimik) noun

something used to attract attention to something or someone. an advertising gimmick.

ˈgimmicky adjective

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Narration by ghost is always a risky trick and could come across gimmicky but, once again, this author pulls it off.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Thrillers don't get much more gimmicky than this - a missing person mystery told entirely through a computer screen.

Ewan's movie of the week; SEARCHING SKY PREMIERE

"I am scared that it will be gimmicky and we won't be taken seriously.

All-female driving team to debut at Rolex 24

With Bandersnatch and its arguably gimmicky interactive format, creator Charlie Brooker has somehow made the most philosophically disturbing and possibly the most fun episode of his magnum opus Black Mirror.

Bandersnatch: Sartre, freewill and beyond the 'Black Mirror'

More recently, I've added a Tipton product to my rifle cleaning regime that, at first glance, seemed gimmicky to me, but upon using it, I have to admit there's some genius behind the design.

TIPTON RAPID DELUXE BORE GUIDE KIT

Let's remember them for that, not as the beneficiaries of a gimmicky retrial.

women who paid the price

But I might have been talking to the wrong person, because I also asked her if she thought the BBC could be accused of being a bit gimmicky for having allfemale presenters and guests on this day of celebration (not least because of what has come out recently about the BBC and "equal pay").

MY SHOUT The power of breakfast TV to irritate (some) viewers; LIKES: PUBS, EVERTON AND HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT HATES: EVERYTHING ELSE

In an age of deconstructed plates and gimmicky unicorn-flavour drinks, Brits highlighted their love of traditional hearty fare."

Reds win sausage sarnie row

It sounds gimmicky, but we really saw and felt a difference when we clicked the nib on Grandiose Liner, PS23, from 'noon' to '2pm' then swooshed it into those tricky corners.

DRAW ON THE QUICK; BEAUTY notes

FRIEND REQUEST (15) H HHHH EMOTICONS, iPhones and iPads are used to gimmicky effect in a horror which, despite its digital theme, feels distinctly dial-up.

FRIEND REQUEST [...]

FOR THE JOKERS Even dads who don't have what could be described as a "grooming regime" will get kick out of a gimmicky gift set.

beauty tools; PAMPERING pressies aren't just for the girls. From cool colognes to sophisticated gift sets, Katie Wright rounds-up the season's best buys for the man in your life

Sometimes new tool features can seem a little gimmicky. That was our first impression of the Bandy Clamp, which is basically a spring clamp with a rubber band connecting the two jaws.

Spring clamp upgrade