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prestidigitation

prestidigitation

3 9.9
A performance using quick, skilled hand movements to do magic tricks
  • noun
  • /ˌprɛstəˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/
translation icon : prestidigitación
  • Welcome, to this night of magic and prestidigitation.
  • feat of prestidigitation

Examples

  • Magic, mystery, prestidigitation!

  • And it takes a little prestidigitation, I think, to do that.

  • Today, I am going to wow you with my supreme skills of prestidigitation.

  • My prestidigitation is no match for Gnorga's magic.

  • Well, it seems the natives here don't appreciate the art of prestidigitation.

  • And I myself in aide of Mr. Brown... an internationally renowned practitioner in the art of prestidigitation.

  • Barnavelt and Izard, masters of prestidigitation, beloved by the crown heads of Europe, together again.

  • Next to my bed, on a long table under several other portraits of celebrated conjurors, lay the peculiar, tiny tools of my trade: packs of cards, cups, balls, sponge-rubber animals, bits of string, coins, and a row of the basic books on prestidigitation.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Tonight, the magician amazed the audience with his incredible skills of prestidigitation.

  • The art of prestidigitation requires years of practice and dedication to master.

Synonyms

trick
vsprestidigitation
255 2.3

A clever act that looks like magic and entertains people

limits this idea to acts using quick, skillful hand movements for illusion
magic trick
vsprestidigitation
29 2.7

A performance that looks impossible and surprises people

emphasizes quick, skillful hand movements rather than broad illusion techniques
sleight of hand
vsprestidigitation
14 7.5

Quick, skilled hand movements used to perform magic tricks or fool people

is broader, naming the performance of such quick hand based illusions
parlour trick
vsprestidigitation
  • UK
3 6.7

A simple magic trick to amuse people at a small party

involves more skilled quick hand movement work than casual simple acts
legerdemain
vsprestidigitation
  • Formal
2 9.9

A skill of quick hand tricks to fool people, like a magician

focuses on entertaining illusion performance rather than intentional deception
conjuring trick
vsprestidigitation
1 4.9

A magic trick that seems to break natural rules to surprise and amuse people

relies on fast hand movement performances instead of grand law defying spectacles
illusionism
vsprestidigitation
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A way of making paintings or stage shows look real to the viewer

depends specifically on fast skillful hand movements to produce close illusions
jugglery
vsprestidigitation
  • Archaic
8.9

A performance of throwing and catching balls to entertain people

focuses on quick, skillful hand movement feats rather than juggling displays

Antonyms

1 2.6

Lack of skill or care when handling things so mistakes happen

How Skillful

wizardry
11 6.7
prestidigitation
3 9.9
trick
255 2.3

Surface Forms

Etymology

Prestidigitation can be remembered by thinking of presto ('quick') and digit ('finger'), a helpful image of 'quick fingers' doing tricks. So, prestidigitation means clever hand tricks or sleight of hand.