finagle

/fɪˈneɪ.ɡəl/

Etymology

Americanism from the 1920s, perhaps combining an alteration of fainaigue (“to renege”) with the suffix + -le (“frequentative”), possibly influenced by inveigle; compare haggle.

verb

  1. To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect, complicated and/or intensive efforts.“finagle a day off work”
  2. To obtain, arrange, or achieve by deceitful methods, by trickery.“finagled his way out of a ticket by pretending to be on the way to a funeral, distraught”
  3. To cheat or swindle; to use crafty, deceitful methods. (often with "out of" preceding the object)“shady stockbrokers who finagle their clients out of fortunes.”