shroudb |
I even looked up the etymology of gimmick, and I don't see any indication that that's a common usage. So color me as confused as well.
gimmick has 2 core meanings:
1. Clever device
( Where's that little gimmick that removes the seeds?)
2. Trick or Catch
( Their balancing of the budget was just an accounting gimmick.)
(the example sentences being from wordreference dot com)
i'm assuming the OP is referring to the 1st meaning. Admitedly it's also the one i first learned of when i was learning english, with the 2nd meaning much more "casual" language that derived from the 1st one over the years.
checking merriam-webster, they also put the "an ingenious or novel mechanical device" as the 1st definition (synonim to Gadget) with the "catch" definition as the 2nd one.
Nik Gervae |
Yeah, it's part of the Merriam-Webster definition, but it's really very uncommon. In the US at least. I've only ever heard of it used in relation to a trick, never a physical device.
Apart from a gimmick very often involving a particular physical device, of course. But the device is not the trick.
Invictus Novo |
And I'm from the US.. heh
The word itself is common enough usage in the US, however very rarely used to represent a physical device. An abstract device, or cheap trick usage is much more prevalent.
I believe the term "gimmick" fell out of favor, replaced by "gadget" when representing a physical device. Largely due to the more negative connotations of it's more abstract use.
Perpdepog |
Puna'chong wrote:Yeah, it's part of the Merriam-Webster definition, but it's really very uncommon. In the US at least. I've only ever heard of it used in relation to a trick, never a physical device.Apart from a gimmick very often involving a particular physical device, of course. But the device is not the trick.
Or, in other words, "But the gimmick is not the gimmick."