Whatever we think about how and when the terms were coined there can be little doubt about where. Tricksters were called both 'sharps' and 'sharks' well before the 19th century, which makes the separate coinages entirely plausible. These terms for deceitfulness have been adopted into other phrases, for example 'sharp practice' and 'loan shark'. The reason for thinking that 'card-sharp' and card-shark' may be independent coinages is the existence of the two much earlier words 'sharping' (swindling or cheating - circa 1692) and 'sharking' (cheating, stealing or sponging - circa 1608). Such tricksters were also known as 'broadsmen' or 'spielers' and 'card-sharping' was also called 'Greekery' - a derogatory term that probably wouldn't get past the political-correctness lobby these days. Of course, Caravaggio didn't title his paintings in English and it isn't clear when it was given its Anglicized name - probably not until well into the 20th century. There is a 1594 painting by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi (Caravaggio) called 'The Cardsharps'. There's no clear evidence to support that view, although if it is the case then it must have gone from 'sharp' to 'shark' as 'card-sharp' appears to be the older term.īoth 'card-sharp' and 'card-shark' originated in the 19th century. It is sometimes suggested that one term derived from the other. The latter is the more commonly used of the two synonymous phrases, especially outside the UK, which is one of the few countries to prefer 'card-sharp'. 'Card-sharp', sometimes written 'cardsharp', might be thought to be a misspelling of 'card-shark'. What's the origin of the phrase 'Card-sharp'? Someone who is skilful at playing or manipulating cards, or one who makes a living by cheating at cards.
Best to avoid shark attacks and stick with card sharp. A card shark might take a bite of your cards, but it's hard to play cards with fins.
#Card sharp card shark tv
Maybe that's why there's a video game called Card Shark and a TV show called Card Sharks. In addition to being a sharp-toothed marine animal, the word shark has been used to mean "a dishonest person who preys on others" since the 1500s. (Washington Times)Ĭard sharp is correct, but seeing it spelled card shark is common. (The Guardian)Ī nervous twitch or other "tell" can alert a card sharp to what an opponent may be holding. Gold's industry peers liken the way she does her job to the practice of an alchemist, a snake charmer, a card sharp, as if she were performing some kind of shadowy magic. In fact, there's a sixteenth-century painting by the Italian painter Caravaggio called "Cardsharps." In the painting, a card player is so engrossed in the game that he doesn't realize that another man is sneaking a peek at his cards and signalling to the card sharp, another player who has extra cards secretly tucked into his pants. The phrase is also spelled card-sharp and cardsharp. A card sharp is someone who makes money playing card games such as poker.Ī sharp is an expert, but the noun phrase card sharp means not just an expert, but a cheat.
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