presto chango

[ cheyn-joh ]

verb (used without object)

1. change at once (usually used imperatively, as in a magician's command).

noun

1. a change occurring suddenly and as if by magic:

   There is always an element of presto chango in international relations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of presto chango¹

Rhyming alteration of change

Example Sentences

He was, in other words, one of the countless lovely assistants who helped pull off the least probable presto chango of our time.

From New York Times

Clark Kent, played by Christopher Reeve, had trouble finding a presto chango place.

From New York Times

Someone announces she’s pregnant, and presto chango: There are her half-grown kids at the dining table, bickering over who gets to use the car.

From Seattle Times

The team behind "Now You See Me 2," in theaters June 10, is aiming to recapture the magic of the original 2013 film — the story of a group of illusionists called the Four Horsemen who use their presto chango skills to pull off a series of Robin Hood-style heists — which grossed $352 million worldwide.

From Los Angeles Times

As Spike Lee said on Tuesday, its 6,000-plus membership can’t be changed “hocus pocus, presto chango” overnight.

From Washington Times