Slang

quack

This page is about the slang term quack

Meaning

someone who cheats people by claiming to have special knowledge, especially in medicine

For example

  • Marion reckons those quacks who charge a fortune for so-called natural cancer cures should be jailed for fraud.

  • In the nineteenth century, quacks would travel around selling their own "patent medicines", many of which contained powerful ingredients like opium or cocaine. Can you guess how Coca-Cola began?

Quick Quiz

Tina sought treatment from an expensive quack because she

a. had a flock of sick ducks

b. hadn't been sick for years

c. hadn't been cured by regular doctors
a) had a flock of sick ducks b) hadn't been sick for years c) hadn't been cured by regular doctors

See Slang of the Day today

Contributor: Matt Errey