The AI-powered English dictionary
countable and uncountable, plural carnies
(informal, countable) A person who works in a carnival (often one who uses exaggerated showmanship or fraud). quotations examples
The Reverend Foster, self-ordained—or directly ordained by God, depending on authority cited—had an instinct for the pulse of his times stronger than that of a skilled carnie sizing up a mark.
1961, Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land, New York: Avon, page 276
Bart spies an opportunity to make a quick buck so he channels his inner carny and posits his sinking house as a natural wonder of the world and its inhabitants as freaks, barking to dazzled spectators, “Behold the horrors of the Slanty Shanty! See the twisted creatures that dwell within! Meet Cue-Ball, the man with no hair!”
2012 May 20, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Marge Gets A Job” (season 4, episode 7; originally aired 11/05/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club
(uncountable) The jargon used by carnival workers. examples
(informal, countable) A carnival. examples
third-person singular simple present carnies, present participle carnying, simple past and past participle carnied
(dialectal) To cajole, wheedle, or coax. examples
(dialectal) Flattery. examples