cheat
cheat — verb
1. to do something dishonest, such as breaking the rules of a game, copying answers
to do something dishonest, such as breaking the rules of a game, copying answers in an exam, or taking money by tricking people
Yusuf tried to cheat on the biology test by copying answers from a hidden note.
cheat on [exam/test]
If you cheat at poker, other players will refuse to sit at your table again.
cheat at [game]
The taxi driver cheated tourists by charging triple the normal fare for a short ride.
Aiko discovered that her business partner had cheated her out of nearly ten thousand dollars.
Students who cheat during exams risk being expelled from the university entirely.
- be honest
direct opposite of using dishonest methods
文法句型
cheat + on + noun
cheat + at + noun
cheat + out of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used with prepositions 'on' (test/exam) or 'at' (game/sport). The transitive pattern 'cheat [person] out of [thing]' is common in contexts of financial fraud.
常見錯誤
2. to be romantically or physically involved with a person other than your spouse o
to be romantically or physically involved with a person other than your spouse or steady partner, which breaks a promise to be faithful
Leila discovered that her husband had been cheating on her with a colleague.
cheat on [partner] + with [person]
Yara found hotel receipts that proved her husband had cheated on her.
cheat on [partner] — discovered through evidence
Diego never suspected that his partner was cheating on him while he travelled for work.
A film follows a woman who cheats on her husband and spends years regretting it.
Ravi ended his friendship with Tomás after Tomás cheated with Ravi's girlfriend.
- be unfaithful
more formal, less direct than 'cheat'
- have an affair
specifies a longer-term romantic involvement rather than a brief encounter
- be faithful
direct opposite; keeping promises to a partner
- be loyal
broader term for commitment in a relationship
文法句型
cheat + on + noun (partner)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'on' followed by the betrayed partner. The preposition 'with' introduces the third person. This sense is intransitive only — you cannot 'cheat someone' to mean being unfaithful.
常見錯誤
cheat — noun
1. a person who uses dishonest methods to gain an advantage, especially by breaking
a person who uses dishonest methods to gain an advantage, especially by breaking rules or deceiving others for personal benefit
I felt like a cheat when I copied homework and claimed it was my own.
feel like a cheat — first-person self-criticism
No one trusted Kofi after finding out he was a cheat who stole client funds.
The game show host called the contestant a cheat and disqualified him immediately.
A group of cheats were arrested for selling fake medicine to elderly patients.
Mei warned her brother not to become a cheat like students who steal test answers.
2. a dishonest action, plan, or piece of deception that causes people to believe so
a dishonest action, plan, or piece of deception that causes people to believe something false, often so that someone can gain money or an advantage
The investment plan was a complete cheat that took money from trusting families.
a complete cheat — intensifier + cheat
Hana felt the advertisement was a cheat because the product did not work as promised.
The store's big sale was a cheat; prices were raised before the discounts started.
Authorities warned people about a tax cheat that promised refunds but stole private data.
Buying a used phone online is risky if the seller runs some kind of cheat.
常見錯誤
3. a special code or set of instructions used in video gaming to unlock hidden abil
a special code or set of instructions used in video gaming to unlock hidden abilities, gain extra resources, or skip difficult stages
Priya typed in a cheat that gave her character unlimited health and powerful weapons.
type in / enter + cheat
The gaming forum shares cheats for unlocking hidden levels and secret bonus characters.
share + cheats + for + [purpose]
Using a cheat to skip hard levels can make the game feel less rewarding.
Noa downloaded cheats that let him fly across the game world without limits.
Some players consider it acceptable to use cheats only after finishing the game once.
- cheat code
more specific; refers to the actual code or button combination
- easter egg
different concept; a hidden feature, not necessarily giving an advantage
用法筆記
Common in gaming communities; often plural ('cheats') when referring to a collection. Many games have official 'cheat codes' that developers intentionally included as easter eggs.