Crossword clues for gimmick
gimmick
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. 1 A trick or device used to attain some end. 2 A clever ploy or strategy. vb. To rig or set up with a trick or device.
WordNet
n. something whose name is either forgotten or not known [syn: dohickey, dojigger, doodad, doohickey, hickey, gizmo, gismo, gubbins, thingamabob, thingumabob, thingmabob, thingamajig, thingumajig, thingmajig, thingummy]
any clever (deceptive) maneuver; "he would stoop to any device to win a point" [syn: device, twist]
Wikipedia
In marketing terminology, the term gimmick refers to a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is generally thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature. It began, however, as a slang term for something that a con artist or magician had his assistant manipulate to make appearances different from reality. Such things as the manipulating of a gaming wheel led to the idea of a "gimmick" being used. Musicians often use gimmicks such as Slash's top hat, Angus Young's schoolboy uniform and Deadmau5's mouse helmet.
In marketing, product gimmicks are sometimes considered mere novelties, and not really that relevant to the product's functioning, sometimes even earning negative connotations. However, some seemingly trivial gimmicks of the past have evolved into useful, permanent features. According to the OED, the word was first attested in 1926, defined in the Wise-Crack Dictionary by Main and Grant as "a device used for making a fair game crooked".
Finding a successful gimmick for an otherwise mundane product is often an important part of the marketing process. For example, toothbrushes are often given certain gimmicks, such as bright colors, easy-grip handles, or color-changing bristles so they appear more interesting to consumers. This is often done while trying to appeal to children or excitable adults, who are often more interested in the gimmick than the product. Electronic toys and hand-held devices are often appealing because of a gimmick that they feature.
Major product features which are poorly designed become known as gimmicks to the product users. Plastic devices often suffer from weak structural components or fragile construction, leading to deforming and cracking of the over-strained and poorly engineered mechanisms. This leaves the owner with the basic functions of the item and the gimmick disabled or, in the case of very cheaply produced products, the gimmick broken completely from the main body of the item.
In professional wrestling, a gimmick generally refers to a wrestler's in-ring persona, character, behaviour, attire and/or other distinguishing traits while performing which are usually artificially created in order to draw fan interest.
These in-ring personalities often involve costumes, make up and catchphrases that they shout at their opponents or the fans.
Gimmicks can be designed to work as good guys ( babyfaces) or villains ( heels) depending on the wrestler's desire to be popular or hated by the crowd. A tweener gimmick falls between the two extremes. A wrestler may portray more than one gimmick over their career depending on the angle or the wrestling promotion that that they are working for at that time.
Promotions will use gimmicks on more than one person, albeit at different times, occasionally taking advantage of a masked character which allows for the identity of the wrestler in question to be concealed. Razor Ramon was portrayed by both Scott Hall and Rick Bognar.
Occasionally, a wrestler uses a gimmick as tribute to another worker; such is the case of Ric Flair's Nature Boy persona which he took on as an homage to the original Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers.
When a wrestler acts outside his or her gimmick this is known as 'breaking kayfabe', a term showing pro wrestling's linkages to theatre, where the more common term "breaking the fourth wall" is used.
Gimmicks are annually rated for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards by the publication's owner, professional wrestling journalist, Dave Meltzer and various insiders of the industry, such as promoters, agents and performers, other journalists, historians, and fans. The two awards are given to the best and worst gimmick of that year. Current winners are The New Day and Stardust respectively.
Gimmick is the second studio album by the American noise rock band Barkmarket, released on October 12, 1993 by American Recordings.
Gimmick may refer to:
- Gimmick, a novelty feature in marketing, magic/illusion, and psychology
- Gimmick, a professional wrestling term
- Gimmick!, a video game developed by Sunsoft
- Gimmick! (manga), a 2005-7 manga series
- Gimmicks, mysterious toy-like weapons invented by the Hanzos in the 2002 video game, Tomato Adventure
- In electronics, a type of capacitor construction made by twisting two insulated wires together
- A slang term for growth hormone and/or anabolic steroids
Usage examples of "gimmick".
Had he tested out a gimmick that disrupted the electricity at the police station?
There have been so many gimmick stories in science fiction that both readers and editors have become very critical of them.
Henry did it masterfully, but it is essentially a gimmick, a trick that has very limited uses.
It was six flights up in a rattly elevator, and then through a security check and a very thorough frisking by an armed woman guard smelling sweetly of flowersa gimmick, Fisher thought, this pretty woman carrying out body searches on potential customers.
I thought only the big boys could pull off a gimmick like this, but the kid had it all worked out.
I think She-She must have activated some secret glandular gimmick, to wrap it up quickly.
I did try a gimmick on her, though, as I took my leave at eleven-thirty.
No, you see, the key to the whole gimmick is to confess quite cheerfully to a couple of unserious, feminine tipples, while at the same time deterring the law from smelling your breath.
During the last half-dozen curtain-calls I had told Martina my problem and, in a moment of hilarious intimacy, she helped gimmick the cummerbund before unleashing me into the first bipedal can we could find.
At the moment the gimmick is that we just spoon and cuddle, cuddle and spoon.
This gimmick slows down light and sound within a narrow field for a limited period of time.
He had anticipated resistant devices, even a major force screen but not a gimmick which blew his own fire-power back in his face.
Also, they must contain some purely mechanical gimmick or they would show up on detector screens.
Naturally, I cannot state precisely how this gimmick works but I should imagine basically it works on the lines of a distorting mirror.
The record had forced Tibbets to keep January on one of the four second-string teams, but with the fuss they were making over the gimmick January had figured that would be far enough down the ladder to keep him out of things.