The established expression is “sleight of hand.” It refers literally to skillful hand movements used in tricks and figuratively to clever concealment or manipulation.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
Write “sleight of hand,” not “slight of hand.”
Key details
Canonical Formsleight of hand
Common Errorslight of hand
Core Meaningskillful hand movement in tricks; figuratively, clever concealment or manipulation
Variants
sleight of hand
Dictionary-listed form.
slight of hand
Not the standard expression.
Further guidance
Correct Form
Cambridge lists “sleight of hand” as the standard expression.
History Boundary
No exact origin date is asserted here.
Word Boundary
“Slight” is a different word and does not form the standard expression.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
The established expression is “bad rap,” referring to severe criticism, an unfavorable judgment, or an unfair accusation depending on context. “Bad wrap” is not the standard spelling of that expression; “wrap” has its own unrelated meanings.
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The standard expression is “dog-eat-dog,” describing a situation in which people compete ruthlessly for their own advantage. “Doggy-dog” is a sound-based reinterpretation, not the standard form of the expression.
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