Pull a rabbit out of the hat

Meaning

The idiom "pull a rabbit out of the hat" means to perform an unexpected or surprising action, especially one that requires skill or talent. It can also refer to a sudden or unpredictable event or development.

Usage

• The magician pulled a rabbit out of his hat during his performance, leaving the audience amazed.
• She pulled off an amazing performance at the last minute, despite not having much practice time.
• The company announced a new product launch that caught everyone by surprise.
• The sports team pulled off a miraculous comeback in the final quarter.
• The musician pulled out all the stops during his concert, leaving the audience wanting more.

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to medieval Europe, where magicians would perform tricks with rabbits. They would keep the rabbit in a hat and pull it out as a surprise to the audience. Over time, the phrase "pull a rabbit out of the hat" came to mean any unexpected or surprising action.

Synonyms in English

• Pull off a feat
• Ace a task
• Score a goal
• Succeed in a mission
• Achieve something remarkable

Synonyms in other languages

• French - "Rêver un rêve" (dream a dream) - This idiom means to achieve a great success or accomplishment that seems like a dream or impossible.
• Spanish - "Tener un genio dentro" (have a genius inside) - This idiom means to have great talent or ability that allows someone to perform miracles.
• German - "Ein Traumwerk der Kunst" (a work of art from a dream) - This idiom means something that is so beautiful and perfect, it seems like it was created in a dream.
• Italian - "Farsi una sorpresa" (catch someone off guard) - This idiom means to do something unexpected or surprising that catches someone off guard.
• Japanese - "難しいことを成功させる" (to succeed in a difficult task) - This idiom means to achieve success in a difficult or challenging situation.

Similar Idioms

• pull your socks up

• pour oil on troubled waters

• pig in a poke