do a disappearing act
do a disappearing act
To vanish from sight or flee suddenly from a place. My kids always do a disappearing act when I tell them it's time for their chores. The three of us did a disappearing act, heading for the Mexican border so we could leave this all behind us.
See also: act, disappear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
do a disappearing act
Vanish, as in As soon as the teacher came outside, Mary did a disappearing act. This expression describes a sudden disappearance as if by magic and presumably alludes to a magician's performance. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
See also: act, disappear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
do a disappearing act
go away without being seen to go, especially when someone is looking for you.The suggestion here is that the person has vanished as completely and inexplicably as things vanish in a magician's act.
See also: act, disappear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
do/perform/stage a disapˈpearing/ˈvanishing act
(informal) go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you: Ian always does a disappearing act when it’s time to wash the dishes.This refers to a magic trick done by a magician in which they make themselves or another person disappear.See also: act, disappear, perform, stage, vanish
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
do a disappearing act
Informal To vanish.
See also: act, disappear
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- do/perform/stage a disappearing/vanishing act
- do a Houdini (act)
- vanish from
- vanish from (something)
- pull a Houdini (act)
- into the blue
- you be the judge of that
- disappear off the face of the earth
- disappear/vanish off the face of the earth
- make for