MAGIC WORDS Ta-Da That's what [the words ta-da] are -- magic. -- Amanda Gore, "The Benefits of Ta-Da!" (2004) Meanings: • Surprise • Triumphant flourish • Voilà Variations and Incantations: • Tada • Ta-dah • Tah-dah -- Janice Eaton Kilby, Book of Wizard Magic: In Which the Apprentice Finds Marvelous Magic Tricks, Mystifying Illusions & Astonishing Tales (200 ) In Literature: • "tada! went Jazz's stomach. Open Sesame! went her heart." -- Melissa Nathan, Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field (2000) • "Extending her arms high in the air she sang out: 'ta-da!'" -- David E. Leininger, "He Rose Again" (2005) • "[J]ust as a magician uses the magic words 'ta-da!', you can magically change your life." -- T.L. Pakii Pierce, "The Power of Focus" (2004) • "'Ta-dah!' Cornelius sang out. He held up a box labeled magic items." -- Vivian Vande Velde, User Unfriendly (1991) • "I crashed the two circles together, then held them up, now linked together. 'Ta da!'" -- Jon Scieszka, Sam Samurai (2001) Tahini Cubini, Baffle Houdini Common Magician's Applications: Tricks involving cube props, as in an optical illusion described in Origami to Astonish and Amuse by Jeremy Shafer (2001). In Literature: • "Now let's all say the magic words, Tahini Cubini, Baffle Houdini!" -- Jeremy Shafer, Origami to Astonish and Amuse (2001)