cheat

Everyday

1. To cheat means to break the rules to win or get an advantage, or to do something dishonest. tree →
2. To cheat someone means to trick them, often to get their money or things. tree →
3. A cheat is a person who cheats. tree →

In the lessons

In school, cheating means copying someone's work or looking at answers in a test; it is unfair and you don't really learn. In games and sport, cheating spoils the game for everyone and players who cheat can be disqualified. In everyday life, to cheat someone out of money is dishonest and can be a crime. In stories, cheats are usually caught in the end. «Cheat sheet» is a list of helpful notes (allowed only when the teacher says).

Examples

• It's wrong to cheat in a test. tree →
• He cheated by peeking at the cards. tree →
• Nobody wants to play with a cheat. tree →
• The shopkeeper cheated them out of their change. tree →
• If you cheat, you only cheat yourself. tree →
• She was caught cheating in the race. tree →
• Cheating spoils the game for everyone. tree →
• "You would not cheat the poor man, would you?" tree →

Note

Regular verb: cheated, cheating. Noun «cheating» (uncountable) and «a cheat» (person). Say «cheat at» a game, «cheat in» a test, «cheat someone out of» something. Cheating is a kind of lying, because it pretends.