Misdirection
/ˌmɪsdəˈrekʃn/noun
The act of pointing someone in the wrong direction or giving someone wrong information.
The magician used misdirection to distract the audience while he performed his trick.
Often appears as...
- magic of misdirection
- misdirection in deception
noun
The action of manipulating someone's attention or focus for personal advantage.
The politician's scandal was a misdirection from the real issues at hand.
Often appears as...
- political misdirection
- misdirection strategy
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The act of pointing someone in the wrong direction or giving someone wrong information.
The magician used misdirection to distract the audience while he performed his trick.
Often appears as...
- magic of misdirection
- misdirection in deception
noun
The action of manipulating someone's attention or focus for personal advantage.
The politician's scandal was a misdirection from the real issues at hand.
Often appears as...
- political misdirection
- misdirection strategy
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Magic Tricks
Used in performing arts to distract and surprise the audience.
The performer's misdirection was so skillful that the crowd didn't notice the card switch.
Pro Tip 2/3Misleading Intent
Intentionally providing false information to achieve a goal.
She practiced misdirection in the game, sending the other team the wrong way.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Sometimes used playfully or harmlessly among friends.
Their playful misdirection led him to the surprise party location instead of the fake venue.
Compare with
confusiondeceitdistractibilitydiversionmisinterpretmisleadmisrepresentobfuscate
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Video examples
His Epic Message Will...
is what we must recognize before it's too late because the real crisis is not global warming environmental destruction or animal culture it is us these problems are symptoms of us byproducts of us are in a reflection loss of connection has created this misdirection we have
Video examples
Chris Bliss: Comedy is...
at reaching around people's walls is the way that it uses deliberate misdirection. A great piece of comedy is a verbal magic trick, where you think it's going over here and then all of a sudden you're transported over here. And there's this mental delight
Video examples
How to write like the...
each one a cleverly constructed puzzle box of clues, misdirection, and human drama. So let's investigate how she crafted these perfect crimes. Christie designed her stories in many ways, but one of the most important decisions was the setting.
Video examples
His Epic Message Will...
is what we must recognize before it's too late because the real crisis is not global warming environmental destruction or animal culture it is us these problems are symptoms of us byproducts of us are in a reflection loss of connection has created this misdirection we have
Video examples
Chris Bliss: Comedy is...
at reaching around people's walls is the way that it uses deliberate misdirection. A great piece of comedy is a verbal magic trick, where you think it's going over here and then all of a sudden you're transported over here. And there's this mental delight
Video examples
How to write like the...
each one a cleverly constructed puzzle box of clues, misdirection, and human drama. So let's investigate how she crafted these perfect crimes. Christie designed her stories in many ways, but one of the most important decisions was the setting.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Stephen Moyer
English Actor
Film and theater are about misdirection and making the audience see something. I find it interesting. One of the things we do in 'True Blood' is shoot all of our stunts in camera. Instead of doing some kind of visual effect, we try to make it happen.
Quote examples
Steve Truglia
English Actor
I realised how much misdirection is in stunt co-coordinating. It's similar to magic, the tricks we use to make people think the stunt is real. I also have a lifelong fascination with gambling cheats. I'm not one, but I do have a fascination with it.
Quote examples
Apollo Robbins
American
We always think of misdirection as, 'Look over here while I do this over here!' And that's not what it is. You can be looking straight at it, and if you're not thinking about it, you won't process it. I find that fascinating.
Quote examples
Apollo Robbins
American
When we think of misdirection, we think of something as looking off to the side when, actually, the things right in front of us are often the hardest to see: the things that you look at every day that you're blinded to.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Free speech gives us the ability to react vigorously with effective arguments and expose the weakness and misdirection of the other side's claims.
Quote examples
Stephen Moyer
English Actor
Film and theater are about misdirection and making the audience see something. I find it interesting. One of the things we do in 'True Blood' is shoot all of our stunts in camera. Instead of doing some kind of visual effect, we try to make it happen.
Quote examples
Steve Truglia
English Actor
I realised how much misdirection is in stunt co-coordinating. It's similar to magic, the tricks we use to make people think the stunt is real. I also have a lifelong fascination with gambling cheats. I'm not one, but I do have a fascination with it.
Quote examples
Apollo Robbins
American
We always think of misdirection as, 'Look over here while I do this over here!' And that's not what it is. You can be looking straight at it, and if you're not thinking about it, you won't process it. I find that fascinating.
Quote examples
Apollo Robbins
American
When we think of misdirection, we think of something as looking off to the side when, actually, the things right in front of us are often the hardest to see: the things that you look at every day that you're blinded to.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Free speech gives us the ability to react vigorously with effective arguments and expose the weakness and misdirection of the other side's claims.
Example 1 of 5
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