abracadabra

American  

[ab-ruh-kuh-dab-ruh] / ˌæb rə kəˈdæb rə /

noun

1. a mystical word or expression used in incantations, on amulets, etc., as a magical means of warding off misfortune, harm, or illness.

2. any charm or incantation using nonsensical or supposedly magical words.

3. meaningless talk; gibberish; nonsense.

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abracadabra British  

/ ˌæbrəkəˈdæbrə /

interjection

1. a spoken formula, used esp by conjurors

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noun

1. a word used in incantations, etc, considered to possess magic powers

2. gibberish; nonsense

Etymology

Origin of abracadabra

1690–1700; < Late Latin, probably < Late Greek, perhaps reflecting recitation of the initial letters of the alphabet; abecedary

Example Sentences

“I’m just saying, don’t be surprised at the bill. Anyway, if both parties agree, you draw up a new contract to replace the old. One signs, the other signs, and abracadabra! You’re done.”

From Literature

At first relatively reserved, he celebrated the discovery of a spectator’s card by stomping his feet and yelling “¡CHAN-TATACHAN!” — nonsense syllables that are his personal version of “abracadabra!”

From New York Times

Put a little abracadabra in your stocking with the new special “Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic 2021.”

From Los Angeles Times

The series’ celebrated technobabble is just a kind of reformulated abracadabra; human characters get the hang of alien gear faster than you could look up how to reset your car’s clock in the owner’s manual.

From Los Angeles Times

Jakob Galloway of Wilmington Banning might as well have shouted “abracadabra” after catching a short swing pass in a football game against Elsinore, because what happened next was magical.

From Los Angeles Times