with a poof
1
8.9
- idiom
- Informal
- The magician made the rabbit disappear with a poof.
Examples
-
She turned off the lights, and with a poof, the room was dark.
-
The cardboard castle collapsed with a poof, much to the children's delight.
-
With a poof, all the balloons vanished from the stage.
-
He solved the puzzle and, with a poof, the hidden door swung open.
-
With a poof, all the balloons vanished from the stage.
-
He solved the puzzle and, with a poof, the hidden door swung open.
-
The cardboard castle collapsed with a poof, much to the children's delight.
Synonyms
743
7.1
Happens quickly and without warning
737
2.7
Very quickly and without warning
111
3.4
Something happens suddenly and without warning
108
3.3
In a sudden way that gives no warning
33
4.1
Suddenly and without any warning
29
6.3
Disappear completely with no trace left
28
5.8
Suddenly with no clear reason, like magic
2
8.7
A word people say when something happens suddenly, like magic
2
8.4
Suddenly disappears without a clear reason
How Sudden
- Informal
1
8.9
- Informal
32
2.5
∞
1.0
∞
1.0
228
1.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
with + a + poof
The phrase combines 'with' (marking manner) + 'a' + 'poof' (an onomatopoeic word for a small popping/magical sound), so its meaning 'accompanied by a sudden, magic-like disappearance/change' is directly inferable from the parts. Because 'poof' transparently signals a sudden effect and the construction follows normal English compositional patterns (and similar onomatopoeic usages exist in many languages), a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would understand the MWE.
Etymology
With a poof may come from the tiny puff or quick poof sound made when a magician makes something disappear, like a small cloud of air. That image explains why with a poof means 'to disappear' or 'change suddenly'.