Shill vs. Schill — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 19, 2024
"Shill" is the correct spelling, denoting someone who promotes or endorses something for self-interest or deceitfully, while "schill" is incorrect.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Shill or Schill
How to spell Shill?
Shill
Correct Spelling
Schill
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember the "ill" in "shill" as someone 'ill-intentioned' in their endorsement.
"Shill" begins with "sh," a common English sound, unlike the less common "sch" in "schill."
"Shill" has a direct and straightforward spelling, reflecting its straightforward meaning.
"Schill" lacks the sharpness of the "sh" sound, which is present in "shill."
Recall the phrase "shell game," which involves deception, similar to the actions of a "shill."
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How Do You Spell Schill Correctly?
Incorrect: The crowd was full of schills, making the event seem more popular.
Correct: The crowd was full of shills, making the event seem more popular.
Incorrect: She didn't realize the reviewer was a schill until it was too late.
Correct: She didn't realize the reviewer was a shill until it was too late.
Incorrect: He was accused of being a schill for the company.
Correct: He was accused of being a shill for the company.
Incorrect: The online forum banned the user for being a suspected schill.
Correct: The online forum banned the user for being a suspected shill.
Incorrect: Many believed the blogger was just a schill, promoting gadgets for money.
Correct: Many believed the blogger was just a shill, promoting gadgets for money.
Shill Definitions
A person who promotes or endorses something deceitfully, often for personal gain.
He acted as a shill for the company, promoting their products secretly.
In online contexts, a person who makes endorsements or positive comments, hiding their affiliation.
The forum had a shill defending the product fiercely.
An accomplice in a swindle or deception.
The auction had a shill to drive up the bids.
A fake or planted audience member used to manipulate or guide audience reactions.
A shill in the crowd started the applause.
To act or speak on behalf of someone or something, not disclosing the relationship.
She shilled for the brand, without revealing her sponsorship.
A shill, also called a plant or a stooge, is a person who publicly helps or gives credibility to a person or organization without disclosing that they have a close relationship with said person or organization. Shills can carry out their operations in the areas of media, journalism, marketing, politics, sports, confidence games, or other business areas.
An accomplice of a confidence trickster or swindler who poses as a genuine customer to entice or encourage others
I used to be a shill in a Reno gambling club
The agency is a shill for the nuclear power industry
Act or work as a shill
Your husband in the crowd could shill for you
One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle.
One who publicly promotes another's cause, especially in an extravagant or misleading way.
To act as a shill.
To act as a shill for (a deceitful enterprise).
To lure (a person) into a swindle.
A person paid to endorse a product while pretending to be impartial.
Carnival barkers and their shills, fleecing the rubes
(disparaging) Any person paid to endorse a product.
On the screen, there was that quack again, playing the shill for yet another drug company.
An accomplice at a confidence trick during an auction or gambling game.
(gambling) A house player in a casino.
(pejorative) To promote or endorse in return for payment, especially dishonestly.
To put under cover; to sheal.
To shell.
A decoy who acts as an enthusiastic customer in order to stimulate the participation of others
Act as a shill;
The shill bid for the expensive carpet during the auction in order to drive the price up
Shill Meaning in a Sentence
A shill in the crowd started clapping, and soon everyone joined in.
He was hired as a shill to make the auction seem more competitive.
She suspected the overly enthusiastic participant was a shill.
Being a shill is considered unethical in many industries.
The magician's shill pretended to be a random audience member.
A shill might post fake reviews to boost or tarnish reputations.
Detecting a shill on social media can be challenging due to anonymity.
A shill might secretly work for a company while posing as an independent blogger.
At the seminar, a shill asked scripted questions to steer the conversation.
Shill Idioms & Phrases
Playing the shill
Acting as an insider to secretly promote a company, product, or service under the guise of being an impartial participant.
He was playing the shill at the auction, bidding on items to drive up prices.
A shill game
A deceptive operation where accomplices pretend to be regular people interested in a product or service, thereby encouraging others to participate.
The street card game turned out to be a shill game, with fake winners drawing in the crowd.
Shill tactic
A strategy designed to deceive people into believing that the support or enthusiasm for something is genuine when it's actually fabricated.
Using shill tactics, the company planted fake customers to rave about their services in forums.
Shill testimonial
A recommendation or review given by someone who has been compensated or has a vested interest, without disclosing this conflict of interest.
The product had many positive reviews, but they were just shill testimonials from paid individuals.
Shill alert
A warning or indication that someone might be promoting something insincerely or for hidden motives.
Users on the website are quick to call out a shill alert when they suspect dishonesty.
Shill network
A group of individuals coordinated to promote or hype up a product, service, or cause surreptitiously.
The film's sudden popularity was the work of a well-organized shill network.
Anti-shill
Measures or attitudes taken to prevent or expose shilling activities.
The forum introduced anti-shill policies to maintain the integrity of its discussions.
Shill bidding
Placing bids on an item to artificially increase its price, interest, or perceived value, not intending to actually buy the item.
The online auction was rigged with shill bidding to inflate prices.
Shill trap
A situation set up to lure people into a scam or deceitful scheme by using shills.
The investment seminar was nothing more than a shill trap to sell overpriced courses.
Common Curiosities
Which vowel is used before shill?
The vowel "i" is used before "shill."
What is the verb form of shill?
The verb form is "shill."
What is the pronunciation of shill?
It is pronounced as /ʃɪl/.
What is the root word of shill?
The exact root word is unclear, but it may come from "shillaber."
What is the singular form of shill?
The singular form is "shill."
Which preposition is used with shill?
"For" is commonly used, as in "shill for."
Why is it called shill?
The term "shill" likely originates from the word "shillaber," used to describe circus or carnival workers who pretended to be customers.
Is shill an adverb?
No, "shill" is not an adverb.
What is the plural form of shill?
The plural form is "shills."
Which conjunction is used with shill?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "shill," depending on the sentence.
Is shill a countable noun?
Yes, "shill" is a countable noun.
Is shill a collective noun?
No, "shill" is not a collective noun.
Is shill a noun or adjective?
"Shill" is primarily a noun.
Is shill an abstract noun?
No, it refers to a concrete person or action.
Is the word “shill” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be a direct object, as in "He hired a shill."
What is the stressed syllable in shill?
The entire word "shill" is stressed as it’s a single syllable.
Which article is used with shill?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "shill," depending on the context.
What is another term for shill?
Another term is "stooge" or "plant."
What is the opposite of shill?
The opposite could be "critic" or "detractor."
Which determiner is used with shill?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "this" can be used with "shill."
Is shill a negative or positive word?
It is generally used in a negative context.
Is shill a vowel or consonant?
"Shill" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
Is the shill term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically in certain contexts.
Is the word shill a gerund?
The gerund form is "shilling."
What is the first form of shill?
The first form is "shill."
What is the second form of shill?
The second form is "shilled."
How is shill used in a sentence?
"The company used a shill to promote their product online."
Is the word shill imperative?
It can be used in the imperative form, e.g., "Shill for our product."
How many syllables are in shill?
There is one syllable in "shill."
How do we divide shill into syllables?
It is a single syllable: shill.
What part of speech is shill?
"Shill" is primarily a noun, but can be used as a verb.
What is the third form of shill?
The third form is "shilled."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.