Slight ~ Sleight
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slight ~ sleight (of hand)
[the same pronunciation, as in ‘slight’ which rhymes with “bright”]
“Slight”, as an adjective, means ‘(of something) small in degree; (of a person) thin and delicate’; and as a noun, it is ‘the act of treating someone without respect’; and as a verb, it is ‘to treat someone rudely, without respect’,
e.g.
There is a slight change in our plan.
The patient looked slight and frail.
My friend felt slighted when I, being in a hurry, pushed her away at the door.
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“Sleight of hand” (noun & always with ‘of hand’) is ‘the use of one’s hands so quickly and skilfully that others cannot understand what or how something is done, usually some magic trick’; the use of skilful tricks and lies in order to cheat someone’,
sleight of hand
e.g.
The magician’s sleight of hand made the audience wonder how in the heaven he did it!
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Mr. Kumar, an English language teacher, having taught in many countries around the world including Ethiopia and Oman shares this English Language Reference website using material that he has written and compiled during the past 20 years.