magic

a magic moment

a short period of time which is very special, especially because something happens which makes you very happy The young eagle was only in view for a few seconds, but for a bird-lover like me it was a magic moment.

See also: moment

a magic touch

a special ability to do something very well The film's great success will no doubt please the 46-year old director who was rumoured to have lost his magic touch.

See also: touch

a magic wand

an easy way to solve a problem

Usage notes: A magic wand is a stick that a person who performs magic tricks waves to make things happen.

(usually negative) Artiside has warned that he has no magic wand to provide food and work overnight. I wish I could just wave a magic wand and make all your troubles go away, but I can't.

See also: wand

What's the magic word?  (British & Australian)

something that you say to a child in order to make them say 'please' or 'thank you' 'Can I have a chocolate, mummy?' 'What's the magic word?' 'Please.'

See work magic, work like magic

work your/its magic

to make a situation improve a lot or to make someone feel happy He was a great football player who is now working his magic as manager of Barnet Football Club. The city never failed to work its magic on me.

See also: work

work like magic

if something works like magic, it is very effective and successful That new stain remover worked like magic.

See also: like, work

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wave a magic wand

to solve a difficult problem with no effort Unfortunately, you can't just wave a magic wand and get rid of poverty.

Etymology: from the practice of waving a wand (a special stick) when someone is doing a magic trick

See also: wand, wave

work your/its magic

to achieve a positive result Can the Austrian men win, or will the Americans work their magic at the Olympics? You have to sit back and let the images in Ozu's films work their magic.

See also: work