sleight of hand

Meaning

Noun

• The required digital dexterity behind magic tricks and illusions.
• A performance of such skill.
• Any form of skillful deception.

Related

Similar words

• legerdemain
• prestidigitation

Origin

• From Middle English slegthe of hande, sleght of hond, equivalent to sleight + of.
• Compare Old French léger de main (cf. the contemporary French léger de main and the contemporary English legerdemain).