Can be used in relation to anything involving distraction and misdirection by which you get everyone to look one way, while whatever you're doing involves going the other way.

As taken from Wikipedia, and which I checked out elsewhere, the first instance of this term is the title of a Jazz song from 1926 by Bennie Moten. Beyond that, it's a term that's only been given real meaning by the movie Lucky Number Slevin, in which it's used to refer to a kind of con game. Specifically a con in which a combination of distraction and subterfuge cause the mark to turn their attention away from the plot which proceeds in the opposite direction. The term itself is weighted with football, gambling, and other innuendo but since it didn't exist as a phrase until that movie was released, you could read that subtext into it or not. At it's simplest, a good head fake in sports is a Kansas City Shuffle. At a more complex level an army massing battalions of tanks on one front to occupy enemy attention and draw them out of fortified positions while in reality a naval attack ensues instead would also be a Kansas City Shuffle. In short, it's a cute name for a kind of misdirection.

Descriptive of the powers possessed by master illusionist Derren Brown. The apparent ability to predict and control the behaviour of others using magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship. Occasionally, and sometimes unexpectedly, we mere mortals can experience fleeting success with our own Brown Powers.

To ignore a request, sexual advance, or invitation usually by lying, rude denial, misdirection, ignoring, or pleading ignorance of the request.

The art of making yourself look good by deciept or misdirection.

A cinematic technique that uses misdirection to lead to an ending that is at first glance completely unexpected or contradictory, but is coherent and reasonable given hindsight and careful observation of the clues presented.

Classic examples include “Memento”, “The Usual Suspects”, "Fight Club", and “The Sixth Sense”.

A type of offence in the game of football. Uses three backs; Halfback, Fullback, and the Z back. Involves a lot of misdirection and equal workload for each of the backs. Seen in lots of Highschools and a few colleges. Hardly ever seen in the NFL. Invented by the late Coach Brennon out of California.