WordWeb Online

1. A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident
   "it sounds good but what's the gimmick?";
   - catch
    
2. Something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known
   "she eased the ball-shaped gimmick back into its socket";
   - doodad [N. Amer], doohickey [N. Amer], dojigger [N. Amer], gizmo, gismo, gubbins [Brit], thingamabob, thingumabob, thingmabob, thingamajig, thingumajig, thingmajig, thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatsis, widget, doodah [Brit], doobrie [Brit], doobry [Brit], thingo [Austral], dingus [N. Amer], doover [Austral], doofer [Brit], thingy, whatsit
    
3. Any clever manoeuvre
   "it was a great sales gimmick"; "a cheap promotions gimmick for greedy businessmen";
   - device, twist

Derived forms: gimmicks

Type of: drawback, maneuver [US], manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], stuff, tactical maneuver [US], tactical manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn]

Encyclopedia: Gimmick