magic trick
Sleight of hand
A magic trick is a performance in which a magician creates an illusion—making objects appear, disappear, transform, or defy physical laws.
The trick lies in misdirection and sleight of hand rather than actual supernatural power: She pulled a rabbit from the hat as her first magic trick.
The term extends to any clever maneuver that produces surprising results: Getting the kids to eat vegetables requires a magic trick.
Skillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- prestidigitationSkillful hand-based illusions
- palmingHiding object in hand
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
forcing · thumb tip · pass · flourish · glide · dexterity · manipulation · gimmick
Cease to be visible
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- transformationThorough change in form
- restorationReturning something to condition
- escapeFlight from captivity
penetration · transposition · prediction · mentalism · sawing in half · disappearing act · floating · linking rings
Raised performance platform
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
- assistantOne who aids another
reveal · patter · routine · act · curtain · spotlight · theatrical · presentation
Intentional focus manipulation
- secretConcealed information
- fakeNot the real thing
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealmentAct of hiding something
distraction · ruse · feint · subterfuge · decoy · planted · stooge · confederate
Famous escape artist
- Penn and TellerComedy magic pair
- Siegfried and RoyIllusionists with exotic cats
- cups and ballsClassic prestidigitation routine
- three-card monteSleight-of-hand street con
David Copperfield · shell game · séance · spiritualism · vaudeville · abracadabra · hocus pocus · presto
Overwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- aweReverent fear and wonder
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- gaspsSharp sudden breaths
wonder · surprise · impossibility · mystery · enchantment · spellbound · captivated · jaw-dropping
sleight of hand
Skillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- prestidigitationSkillful hand-based illusions
- palmingHiding object in hand
legerdemain · forcing · thumb tip · pass · flourish · glide · dexterity · manipulation · gimmick · load
vanish
Cease to be visible
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- transformationThorough change in form
- restorationReturning something to condition
escape · penetration · transposition · prediction · mentalism · sawing in half · disappearing act · floating · linking rings · cups and balls
stage
Raised performance platform
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
assistant · reveal · patter · routine · act · curtain · spotlight · theatrical · presentation · finale
misdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
concealment · distraction · ruse · feint · subterfuge · decoy · planted · stooge · confederate · gaffed
Houdini
Famous escape artist
- Penn and TellerComedy magic pair
- Siegfried and RoyIllusionists with exotic cats
- cups and ballsClassic prestidigitation routine
David Copperfield · three-card monte · shell game · séance · spiritualism · vaudeville · abracadabra · hocus pocus · presto · alakazam
amazement
Overwhelming surprise and wonder
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- aweReverent fear and wonder
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
gasps · wonder · surprise · impossibility · mystery · enchantment · spellbound · captivated · jaw-dropping · breathtaking
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
- party trickscard tricks, spoon bending, juggling, balloon animal, pen spinning
- trickscard tricks, illusion, sleight of hand, sleight, vanishing act
- live actscomedy act, circus act, variety act, solo act, clown act
- pantomimedame, pantomime dame, pantomime horse, principal boy, ugly sisters
- puzzlespuzzles, sudoku, jigsaw puzzle, puzzle cube, crossword
magic trickreveal
Make something visible
exposé · debunking · explanation · tutorial · behind-the-scenes
magic, trick, magical, magician, trickster, magicians, magicked, magic tricks