Definition

Proper noun * Harry Houdini: The stage name of Erik Weisz (1874–1926), a Hungarian-American illusionist, stunt performer, and escape artist. He is world-famous for his sensational and seemingly impossible escape acts from handcuffs, chains, straitjackets, locked containers, and water-filled tanks.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Harry Houdini captivated audiences with his death-defying escapes.
  • The legend of Harry Houdini continues to inspire modern magicians.
  • He studied the techniques of Harry Houdini to improve his own escape act.

Advanced Usage

• "a Houdini" (figurative noun): Used to describe a person who skillfully escapes from a difficult or confining situation.
  • The suspect was a real Houdini, managing to slip away from the police twice.
• "Houdini-like" (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of Houdini's escapes; seemingly magical or impossible.
  • The spy made a Houdini-like disappearance from the heavily guarded compound.

Variants and Related Words

• Houdini (noun): A common shorthand reference for Harry Houdini.
  • The biography is titled simply "Houdini".
• Escape artist (noun): A performer who specializes in escape acts; the term is synonymous with Houdini's primary fame.

Synonyms

• Illusionist
• Escape artist
• Magician

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To pull a Houdini: To escape or disappear in a clever, surprising, or inexplicable way.
  • I turned my back for one second and my keys pulled a Houdini—now I can't find them anywhere!

Noun

1. United States magician (born in Hungary) famous for his ability to escape from chains or handcuffs or straitjackets or padlocked containers (1874-1926)