noun
Houdini
Houdini (noun) means a skilled escape artist, or someone who slips out of tricky situations. Example: “The suspect pulled a houdini and vanished before backup arrived.”
noun
1
A skilled escape artist, or someone who slips out of tricky situations.
"The suspect pulled a houdini and vanished before backup arrived."
verb
1
To escape from a difficult or confining situation with surprising speed or skill.
"“Hey! Let’s go see what the others are up too,” he suggested and Houdinied his way out from between the counter and Lorilei before fleeing to the hallway."
— Anthony A. von Dessauer, Victoria (2008)
"Friends: to those I Houdini-ed, those I ran away from, those I lied to, took advantage of, or abused in any sort of way, I am sorry."
— Jennie Ketcham, I Am Jennie (2012)
"Somehow he houdinied his way out of the contract."
How to use Houdini
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo vanish or slip free from a tight spot, named after the famous escape artist.
Common pairings
pull a houdini
houdini act
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Word forms
- Plural
- Houdinis
- Third person singular
- Houdinis
- Past tense
- Houdinied, Houdini-ed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The suspect pulled a _____ and vanished before backup arrived.
Etymology
From the stage name of magician and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926), who took it in tribute to French magician Robert-Houdin.
Class of 1874
Houdini joined the language around 1874.
See the full Class of 1874 →
Rhymes for Houdini
See all rhymes for Houdini →Frequently asked questions
What does “Houdini” mean?
The word “Houdini” means a skilled escape artist, or someone who slips out of tricky situations. In plain terms, to vanish or slip free from a tight spot, named after the famous escape artist.
How do you use “Houdini” in a sentence?
Here is “Houdini” used in a sentence: “The suspect pulled a houdini and vanished before backup arrived.”
What part of speech is “Houdini”?
Depending on how it is used, “Houdini” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Houdini” come from?
The word “Houdini” dates back to around 1874 and comes from French. From the stage name of magician and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926), who took it in tribute to French magician Robert-Houdin.
How many meanings does “Houdini” have?
“Houdini” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a skilled escape artist, or someone who slips out of tricky situations.
