magic spell
- noun
- /ˈmædʒɪk spɛl/
- I'm under some magic spell.
- cast a magic spell
- break the magic spell
- weave a magic spell
It's like complaining that Harry Potter's magic spells violate energy conservation.
- It's like complaining that Harry Potter's magic spells violate energy conservation.
- There are no magic spells A psychic or a medium can cast.
Examples
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You're under the magic spell and all your joys increase...
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But we'll need a magic spell that works in this realm to open the portal home.
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Even I used to fall under your magic spell.
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The magic spell you cast
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The bones were clean and white, held together as if by some magic spell.
Fiction book (2002) -
Love's magic spell is everywhere.
Fiction book (1996) -
I want you to use your incredible powers to release my father from a magic spell that Murray totally screwed up.
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The magic spell had begun to dissipate.
Fiction book (1993) -
Words are incantations weaving magic spells.
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To awaken the ancient spirits, the witch recited a powerful magic spell under the full moon.
Synonyms
Words believed to give someone magic power or make them unable to think clearly
A word or verse spoken as a magic spell
Words said by a witch or wizard to make something happen
A small magic spell that makes simple, harmless effects like making a candle flicker
A time when someone or something seems controlled by magic
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning of 'magic spell' is directly compositional from 'magic' (supernatural power) and 'spell' (a set of words or charm), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a set of words believed to have magical power. This collocation and concept is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner familiar with the constituents will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
The phrase magic spell comes from old stories where a person said special words, the spell, to try to make magic happen. That's why magic spell now means a set of words people believe can 'have magical power' or 'make wishes come true'.