Houdini

English

Etymology

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

Proper noun

Houdini

1. The magician and escape artist Harry Houdini.

Noun

Houdini (plural Houdinis)

1. 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 (fi)
• Japanese: フーディーニ (fūdīni), 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)

1. (transitive, informal) To 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.