Question: I understand that questions that could potentially be answered by using the dictionary are frowned upon however there are multiple words that I see for cheating, which have overlapping meanings because English isn't very precise.

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PzyI9m.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PzyI9m.jpg)

I've included this picture mostly because this comes from a Russian-English Telegram channel and it doesn't appear to be right. In the video, the man is using the dog to read the newspaper and beneath that, it says, *обманывать*. *обманывать* to my [understanding](https://ru.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C) means to deceive someone through lies. Cheating also can be breaking rules in a game to gain an advantage which seems like *жульничать*.

In English, we may even call this a life-hack. Alternatively, it seems like I could use *изменять* as well. Is this correct?

Answer: 
Maybe they used the word 'обмануть' because the boy in the picture didn't want his meal to be eaten by the dog and gave him a newspaper to gag his mouth) If it's true 'обмануть' is ок, but I would use a synonym 'обхитрить' here. Because 'обмануть' is stronger and has a more negative meaning. Обхитрить is a derivative from хитрый (sly) and closer 'to trick'.
"Cheat" in picture falls to case

```
2.
avoid (something undesirable) by luck or skill 

```

Usually translated as обмануть. See :

```
He cheated death.   
Он обманул смерть.

```

Closest Russian word for a noun to that exact meaning of "lifehack" would be *"уловка"* - *"trick"*, but word also got meaning of *"deception"*. "смекалка" also seem appropriate, but it's common "cunning".

In slang we literally use transliterated "cheat" and "lifehack" today sometimes, in appropriate context. "Lifehack" became more formal thanks to media. Spelled "чит" and "лайфхак".

```
 INFORMAL
 be sexually unfaithful.

```

Is replaced by "betray" - "изменять" used with dative case in relation to partner and with comitative case in relation to illicit partner:

```
Оливер изменял своей невесте с ее сестрой.
Oliver cheated his fiancée with her sister.

```

Rest meaning are pretty straightforward and there are numerous synonyms and expressions parallel to english ones.