nice try

INFORMAL
This page is about the conversational phrase nice try

Meaning

You can say this to someone who's trying to cheat you or play a trick on you.

For example

  • "You'll double your money in a month if you invest in this scheme."
    "Hah! Nice try, pal, but I wasn't born yesterday."

  • "Watch out, Lindy! There's a zombie behind you!"
    "Nice try," she laughed, "but you'll have to do better than that."

Note:
As used here, this phrase is ironic. But it also a literal or non-ironic meaning, as in "Nice try, Brad. Your shot was really close."

Quick Quiz

You can say "Nice try" to someone if they're

a. trying to be nice

b. trying to help you

c. trying to trick you
a) trying to be nice b) trying to help you c) trying to trick you

Contributor: Matt Errey