The word 把戏 is formed through the metaphorical combination of its two components: 把, which originally means "to grasp" or "handle", and 戏, meaning "play", "trick", or "performance". Historically, it referred to the handheld props or skillful manipulations used in acrobatic or juggling street performances. Over time, the term evolved from this concrete meaning of a physical, handheld performance into a figurative noun describing any clever deception, trickery, or artifice, capturing the essence of a skillfully executed illusion meant to deceive or entertain an audience.