hey presto

English

Pronunciation
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)

Interjection

hey presto

  1. (Britain) Used by stage magicians, when performing a magic trick.
    Synonyms: abracadabra, alakazam, hey pass
  2. (Britain, 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.
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