Magic trivia question

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Bill Mullins
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Magic trivia question

Postby Bill Mullins » March 7th, 2018, 11:45 pm

This question was recently on University Challenge, the UK equivalent of College Bowl

What seven-letter word is this?
Originally an American slang term for a dishonest means of regulating a gambling game, it can also mean an item used in a conjuring trick, a professional wrestler's in-ring persona and a showy device used to attract attention or publicity.


(I'm not sure I agree that the clue matches the answer they gave. . .)

Answer: GIMMICK (select the answer with your cursor to read it)

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Christopher1979
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby Christopher1979 » March 8th, 2018, 12:21 am

Bill Mullins wrote:This question was recently on University Challenge, the UK equivalent of College Bowl

What seven-letter word is this?
Originally an American slang term for a dishonest means of regulating a gambling game, it can also mean an item used in a conjuring trick, a professional wrestler's in-ring persona and a showy device used to attract attention or publicity.


(I'm not sure I agree that the clue matches the answer they gave. . .)

Answer: GIMMICK (select the answer with your cursor to read it)


No it doesn't match, I am surprised!, University Challenge is held in high regard in England.
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Q. Kumber
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby Q. Kumber » March 8th, 2018, 6:12 am

Perhaps Max Maven can fill us in on the wrestling reference but the other clues seem to add up

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/gimmick?s=t

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erdnasephile
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby erdnasephile » March 8th, 2018, 6:22 am

Maybe University Challenge reads Wikipedia?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimmick_(professional_wrestling)

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AJM
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby AJM » March 8th, 2018, 9:17 am

Now, now, I won’t have any aspersions cast against one of my favourite shows.

They have a crack team of question compilers.

Andrew

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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby MagicbyAlfred » March 8th, 2018, 12:14 pm

erdnasephile wrote:Maybe University Challenge reads Wikipedia?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimmick_(professional_wrestling)



Yes, that's it for sure. In fact, they beautifully coalesced the magic gimmick and wrestling gimmick references with a photo of the Wrestling Masked Magician [/i]that accompanies the Wikipedia article. (To see the photo, click on link provided by Erdnasephile)

observer
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby observer » March 8th, 2018, 2:31 pm

The definition looks fine to me. An example (one of many) of "gimmick" in a wrestling context:

https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/ ... icks-ever/

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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby Max Maven » March 9th, 2018, 3:23 am

The clue is valid, but likely out of chronological order.

Probable sequence: conjuring > carnival game rigging > gambling and wrestling > general use

observer
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Re: Magic trivia question

Postby observer » March 9th, 2018, 8:10 pm

By the way, if anyone is interested in the history of pro wrestling as a branch of show business - indeed, perhaps an "allied art" insofar as it involves surviving and/or escaping from potentially dangerous situations - Whatever Happened to Gorgeous George by Joe Jares (Prentice-Hall, 1974) is worth a read.


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