magic words
Please and thanks
Magic words are the specific phrases required to produce a desired effect—whether in fairy tales, where abracadabra opens doors, or in childhood, where please and thank you unlock adult cooperation.
The term often carries gentle irony: What's the magic word? reminds someone they've forgotten to say please.
In computing, magic words are reserved strings that trigger special behavior in a system.
- spellArrange letters correctly
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- hexMalevolent incantation
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
cast a spell · presto · hocus-pocus · abracadabra · thank you · alakazam · bibbidi bobbidi boo · please · pretty please · charm · spellcasting · invocation · curse · bewitchment · open sesame · rune · chant · wand
- fairy godmother spellsbibbidi bobbidi boo, pumpkin carriage, glass slippers, fairy dust
- voice magicincantation, chanting, voice casting
- magicwizard, wand, sorcerer, witchcraft, mage
- fantasy magiccrystal ball, flying broom, love potion, invisibility cloak, enchanted forest
- Arabian NightsAladdin, Scheherazade, Ali Baba, Arabian Nights, Sinbad
- spellsspell, cast, conjure, curse, enchantment
magic wordsmanual labor
Work done bodily
gestures · brute force · body language · deeds · handiwork
magic wordsplain language
Easily understood communication
everyday words · common parlance · small talk · idle chatter · empty words
magic wordsbad manners
Socially unacceptable behavior
demands · rudeness · discourtesy · impoliteness · gimme
magic, words, magical, magician, wordy, mystical, mystic, wizardry, mysticism