| red herring(expression, cause, excuse, pretense) |
| semblance(cause, excuse) |
| veil(cause, excuse, pretense, ploy) |
| wrinkle(noun, catch, fake, trick, counterfeit) |
| bilk(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| confidence game(noun, expression, trick, lie, sham) |
| crock(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| decoy(noun, trick, deception, lie, sham) |
| fallacy(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| fib(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| hogwash(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| illusion(noun, trick, deception, lie, sham) |
| lie(noun, trick, sham, fraud) |
| malarkey(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| put-on(noun, catch, trick, sport, copy) |
| ride(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| shuck(noun, trick, lie, sham) |
| story(noun, action, plan, play, trick) |
| stunt(noun, move, action, catch, fake) |
| cause |