hey presto

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England)

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Interjection

hey presto

1. (British) Used by stage magicians, when performing a magic trick.

   Synonyms: abracadabra, alakazam, hey pass

2. (British, colloquial) Indicates a sudden desirable conclusion or change, as if by magic

   Synonyms: ta-da, voilà

   If you take the next left, you’ll see a big shop and hey presto, you’re there.

   • 1968, Erich von Däniken, Chariots of the Gods?, Putnam:

     They stick a couple of old potshards together, search for one or two adjacent cultures, stick a label on the restored find and—hey, presto!—once again everything fits splendidly into the approved pattern of thought.