Is there a word that means cheating but legitimate?

Question

Is there a word that means cheating and legitimate at the same time?

For example: I play a quiz game and set the number of questions to one. So, I get 100% of my answers correct. That's cheating, but it's legit.

So how do I describe what I did in one word?

"Loading the dice,using a marked deck, stacking the cards" are not legitimate. — Prem, Apr 12 '15 at 14:27
Depends on context. In the context of regulation and government incentives/dis-incentives, you often see gaming the system as per Prem's answer below. In sports it would be gamesmanship as per Papa Poule's answer. In the context of taxation the usual word is loophole as per Steve Jessop's answer. — A E, Apr 12 '15 at 16:26
Rounding. As when the package of food says 0 grams of fat (means less then .5 of a gram). — Mazura, Apr 12 '15 at 23:40
The best common usage word someone mentioned is "trick". You use a "trick" to legitimately win, or "trick" your opponents. — jfa, Apr 13 '15 at 00:48
I consider 'exam technique' to be an aloof term to refer to the term you're looking for — xxjjnn, Apr 13 '15 at 14:06
Related: What is a word for annoying behavior which decreases enjoyment for the other players in a game? — Scott - Слава Україні, Apr 14 '15 at 08:04
The above scenario you have specified is not at all cheating. Because, if you answer that single question wrongly, you are 100% lost. So, it's not cheating but legitimate. (Ethical) — jeffry copps, Apr 12 '15 at 11:45
What is meant by "legit" in this question? Breaking the quiz in your example isn't a legitimate (i.e. conforming to the law or rules) way of winning because it's effectively changing the rules rather than conforming to them. Unless it's part of a greater contest, e.g. a contest to hack the quiz (in which the contest rules would permit changing the quiz's internal rules), this question is fundamentally flawed. — talrnu, Apr 14 '15 at 13:36
Not enough rep to answer so.. In gaming circles the common word is "move". Usage "The Player made a move". A "move" can be legit, gray area cheating or just plain cheating. The word is used in poker for example when the move made is not completely on the up and up. — Jon, Apr 14 '15 at 14:14
"Gaming the system" might work. Also "dirty pool", meaning the kind of pool playing that takes advantage of every rule to screw your opponent rather than just relying on the simple skill of sinking balls. — Lee Daniel Crocker, Apr 14 '15 at 16:09
What in school is called "cheating" in the real world is oftentimes called "collaborating" ;-) — yankee, Apr 15 '15 at 15:18
It's an interesting observation that there are *many such terms* available in our world for the quality asked about here :/ — Fattie, Dec 19 '15 at 13:27

score 65 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 12 '23 at 20:21

When a game has rules, breaking the rules is known as cheating. But some folks look at the wording (letter) of the rules and try to cheat without breaking the rules. So there is the concept of intent (spirit) of the rules. Folks who cheat, but do not break the rules, are breaking the spirit of the rules.

Some other phrases used are:

rules lawyering
gaming the system
exploiting technicalities/loopholes/ambiguous language

(Reference)

score 44 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:22

44

You've exploited a loophole in the rules.

answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:22

Steve Jessop

1,792

This is the correct term for games; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploit_%28video_gaming%29 – Keith Apr 13 '15 at 05:40

score 24 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 15:32

24

You are "gaming" the system. Gaming implies that you are playing within the rules but in the way that the rule writers did not intend or expect.

answered Apr 12 '15 at 15:32

Kurt Tappe

396

score 20 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 13:29

“Gamesmanship” is a single-word noun that seems to describe what you are up to.

I don’t think an adjective currently exists for this noun, but perhaps somewhere between “sportsmanlike” and “unsportsmanlike” you could coin and find a place for “gamesmanlike.”

Phrases could include “gaming/playing the system,” “bending the rules,” or “exploiting technicalities/a technicality.”

score 17 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 10:35

In this case it seems like you are outsmarting the system, so how about:

Circumvention

to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting

from dictionary.com

Bypass

to go around or avoid (a city, obstruction, problem, etc)

from dictionary.com

score 5 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 13 '15 at 00:53

5

I would call that cheap. The act itself would be employing a cheap tactic. Alternatively, your strategy could be seen as an exploit, in which case you would be exploiting.

answered Apr 13 '15 at 00:53

fisher

51

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 15:41

Cheating or bypassing or exploiting all the possibilities and shortcuts is called 'hacking'.

In your situation you 'hacked' the quiz, if you need one word.

There is an expression 'to work something around' or 'to find a workaround'

This type of activity, exploiting workarounds and shortcuts is described as 'life hacks'

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 09:20

1

I think an expedient may suggest a neutral connotation:

Something that is a means to an end, especially when based on self-interest: compromised only as an expedient to boost his career. (AHD)

The Free Dictionary

also, but with stronger connotation, a dodge:

A cunning trick or dishonest act, in particular one intended to avoid something unpleasant:

(ODO)

answered Apr 12 '15 at 09:20

1

How about just trick? – Jim Reynolds Apr 12 '15 at 10:42
@JimReynolds I think "trick" is the best word for this in terms of common usage. You use a "trick" to win the game, or you "trick" your opponents. Please make this a unique answer and post when you have. – jfa Apr 13 '15 at 00:47

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 09:27

It's not clear in your example exactly who you're supposed to be cheating. But you can try:

outwit (or outsmart)

to defeat somebody/something or gain an advantage over them by doing something clever

In my opinion, it doesn't have a very negative connotation.

Source - oxford

score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 22:51

1

You have taken advantage of the rules.

answered Apr 12 '15 at 22:51

quant

457

score 1 · Answer 11 · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

1

Literal interpretation/bending the rules might also work.

Roll a dice, the highest number wins.

Player 1 rolls a six.
Player 2 rolls a five.
Player 3 takes out a 20 sided dice and rolls a 19.

Player 3 is not cheating, since the rules don't state what dice to roll, but that's not what the rules intended.

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

1

answered Apr 13 '15 at 14:46

Viktor Mellgren

509

score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Apr 14 '15 at 19:11

As an alternative to gaming the system, playing the system sounds more natural to me in British English.

As well as exploiting a loophole in the rules, I'd like to offer creative interpretation of the rules and abuse of the rules.

The International Obfuscated C Code Contest (a programming contest) offers a an award for "worst abuse of the rules" which was famously won one year by a quine (self-replicating program) which consisted of an empty file.

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:45

0

Related (in terms of being popular and accepted)

to bank (slang)

The American Slang Dictionary - Page 25 James Maitland - 1891

Bank, "to play" (Am.), means to play against the bank or gambling house.

answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:45

Marius Hancu

7,714

score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 20:50

0

"creative [ something ] " could also be an option. This is cheating, but per the rules.

answered Apr 12 '15 at 20:50

WoJ

440

score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Apr 14 '15 at 14:16

0

Gaming

As in Gaming the System. You technically following the rules but not the intent.

answered Apr 14 '15 at 14:16

Clay Nichols

235

score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Apr 14 '15 at 16:37

0

A clause used by a former President of the United States to describe this approach to making a comment or a statement is, "legally accurate but not volunteering information."

answered Apr 14 '15 at 16:37

Tom Au

11,056

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered Apr 14 '15 at 21:15

Cheesing is one that's gained popularity recently, particularly in the gaming community, but I think it can be applied to anything. It refers to exploiting the game in a way that goes against the spirit of the game, whilst still being technically not cheating or breaking any rules.

score 0 · Answer 18 · answered Apr 15 '15 at 14:00

0

You're kind of Metagaming.

You're not cheating at the game though, since you made up the rules. If you want to expand the rules and say that the inherent difficulty of the quiz matters then you would have a low score.

answered Apr 15 '15 at 14:00

Carlos Bribiescas

595
1
7
12

score -2 · Answer 19 · answered Apr 13 '15 at 16:37

-2

Perhaps "Gaining an edge" or "Gaining an advantage".

answered Apr 13 '15 at 16:37

user1359

1,488

1

There is no cheating implied there. – Matt E. Эллен Apr 14 '15 at 15:12

score -4 · Answer 20 · answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:15

-4

What about one of these: Fabricate Embellish Tailor Doctor Refine

answered Apr 12 '15 at 14:15

Maximin

11

5

three of these fail the "legitimate" test and the other two need some information on how and why they could fit as answers.... – Hellion Apr 12 '15 at 14:36

Is there a word that means cheating but legitimate?

20 Answers20