Houdini

English

Etymology

Invented by Harry Houdini from the French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin

Proper noun

Houdini

The magician and escape artist Harry Houdini.

Noun

Houdini (plural Houdinis)

An escape artist.

Usage notes

Used attributively, as in
A delighted Thurlow described his performance as "a real Houdini act". – (BBC news report)

Translations

escape artist

Finnish: kahlekuningas
Japanese: フーディーニ (fūdiini), フーディニ (fūdini)

Marathi: हूडीनी m (hūḍīnī)
Russian: Гуди́ни (Gudíni)

Verb

Houdini (third-person singular simple present Houdinis, present participle Houdiniing or Houdini-ing, simple past and past participle Houdinied or Houdini-ed)

to vanish, or escape a difficult situation quickly.
- 2008, Anthony A. von Dessauer, Victoria, Lulu.com, page 97:
  “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.
- 2009, Tony Esposito, Don’t Ever Leave This Country, AuthorHouse, page 197:
  While she Houdinied out of the sheets she seesawed upright to a sitting position, then, free, she sprang to her feet, her spiffy breasts not the least bit fazed by her thunky dismount.
- 2012, Jennie Ketcham, I Am Jennie, Gallery Books, page 340:
  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.