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)