houdini

Thân thiện

Houdini performed a famous escape from a locked trunk.

Definition

Proper noun * Harry Houdini: The stage name of Erik Weisz (1874-1926), a Hungarian-American magician and escape artist renowned for his sensational and seemingly impossible escapes from restraints such as handcuffs, chains, straitjackets, and locked containers.

Usage

• The name "Houdini" is used to refer to the historical figure himself.
  • Houdini performed death-defying stunts that captivated audiences worldwide.
  • Many books have been written about the life of Houdini.
• It is commonly used as a metaphor for someone with an extraordinary ability to escape from a difficult situation or confinement.
  • The suspect was a real Houdini; he managed to slip out of the police car unnoticed.
  • Our cat is like Houdini, always finding a way out of the house.

Advanced Usage

• "to pull a Houdini": (idiomatic) To escape or disappear in a clever, surprising, or seemingly impossible way.
  • The prisoner pulled a Houdini and vanished from his cell overnight.
  • I had the document on my desk, but it seems to have pulled a Houdini.

Variants and Related Words

• Houdinian (adj., rare): Pertaining to or characteristic of Houdini or his escapes.
  • The escape was a Houdinian feat of ingenuity and physical control.

Synonyms

• Escape artist: A performer who specializes in breaking free from restraints or traps.
• Illusionist: A magician who creates illusions of the impossible.
• Magician: A person who performs magic for entertainment.

Related Idioms

• "Like Houdini": Behaving similarly to Houdini; used to describe a clever escape or disappearance.
  • He got out of that contract like Houdini.

Học thuật

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)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Houdini
• Harry Houdini
• Erik Weisz