* The magician's act relied heavily on a cheap gimmick involving disappearing doves. (Negative connotation)
* The new marketing campaign used a clever gimmick to attract attention. (Neutral connotation)
* The restaurant's "free dessert with every meal" was a blatant gimmick to lure customers in. (Negative connotation)
* Although the movie had a few gimmicks, the story itself was engaging. (Mixed connotation)
* The politician's speech was filled with empty promises and gimmicks. (Negative connotation)
The connotation of "gimmick" can be positive, negative, or neutral depending on the context. It often suggests something that is intended to attract attention or deceive, but it can also be used to describe a clever or creative trick.