Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hoodwink'

English Word: hoodwink

Key Russian Translations:

• обмануть [ɐb.mɐˈnutʲ] - [Informal; often used in everyday deceptive contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in literature, media, and conversational Russian, but not as frequent as basic verbs like 'сказать').

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; involves understanding verb conjugations and contexts of deception, per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

обмануть: [ɐb.mɐˈnutʲ]

Note on обмануть: The stress falls on the last syllable ('nutʲ'), which is a common feature in Russian imperfective verbs. Be mindful of the soft 'тʲ' sound, which can be challenging for English speakers used to harder consonants.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To deceive or trick someone, often in a clever or sneaky way.

Translation(s) & Context:

• обмануть - Used in informal contexts for tricking someone, such as in personal relationships or minor scams.

Usage Examples:

• Он обманул меня, чтобы получить деньги. (He hoodwinked me to get the money.)

  English Translation: He tricked me in order to obtain the money. This example shows the verb in a simple past context involving personal deception.

• Не позволяй себе быть обманутым этими обещаниями. (Don't let yourself be hoodwinked by these promises.)

  English Translation: Don't allow yourself to be tricked by these promises. Here, it's used in an imperative form to warn against manipulation.

• Она обманула полицию, изменив показания. (She hoodwinked the police by altering her testimony.)

  English Translation: She deceived the police by changing her statement. This demonstrates the verb in a more formal, legal context.

• Дети часто обманывают родителей, чтобы избежать наказания. (Children often hoodwink their parents to avoid punishment.)

  English Translation: Children frequently trick their parents to evade punishment. This example highlights habitual use in family scenarios.

• Бизнесмен обманул инвесторов, скрывая убытки. (The businessman hoodwinked investors by hiding losses.)

  English Translation: The businessman deceived investors by concealing losses. This shows the verb in a professional or financial context.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"обмануть" is an imperfective verb in Russian, meaning it describes ongoing or repeated actions. It follows standard first-conjugation patterns but has irregularities in some forms. Below is a table of its key inflections:

Note: The verb is irregular in its past tense forms, which change based on gender (e.g., обманул for masculine, обманула for feminine). It does not change in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: надуть (to cheat or swindle, often in financial contexts), обвести вокруг пальца (to lead around by the nose, implying clever manipulation)
• надуть is more casual and financial-focused, while обвести вокруг пальца emphasizes psychological trickery.
• Antonyms: сказать правду (to tell the truth), раскрыть (to reveal or expose)

Related Phrases:

• Обмануть доверие - To betray trust; often used in relationships or professional settings to indicate a breach of faith.
• Обмануть ожидания - To deceive expectations; refers to situations where something turns out differently than anticipated.
• Быть обманутым - To be hoodwinked; a passive construction highlighting the victim's perspective.

Usage Notes:

"Обмануть" directly corresponds to "hoodwink" in its connotation of clever deception, but it's more versatile in Russian and can apply to various contexts like personal, financial, or social scenarios. Use it in informal speech; for formal writing, consider "ввести в заблуждение" for a more polished equivalent. Always conjugate based on subject gender and number, as Russian verbs change forms. When choosing among translations, opt for "обмануть" if the deception is intentional and personal, rather than systemic.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "обмануть" without proper conjugation, e.g., saying "Я обмануть" instead of "Я обманул". Correct: Conjugate to match the subject, as in "Я обманул тебя" (I hoodwinked you). Explanation: Russian requires verb agreement, which English speakers might overlook.
• Error: Confusing it with similar verbs like "обманывать" (the imperfective form for ongoing deception). Correct: Use "обмануть" for a completed action, e.g., "Он обманул меня" (He hoodwinked me once), not for habits. Explanation: This mix-up can alter the tense and meaning in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, themes of deception like those in "hoodwink" often appear in literature and folklore, such as in stories by Chekhov or Pushkin, where clever tricks highlight human ingenuity or folly. "Обмануть" can carry a nuanced connotation of wit, sometimes portraying the deceiver as resourceful rather than purely negative, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on survival through cunning.

Related Concepts:

• Ложь (lie)
• Мошенничество (fraud)
• Обман (deception)