Magician's words

[James A. Landau]

Michael Quinion asked:

> Can anyone help me out, off list for preference, with more examples
>  of traditional magicians' incantatory phrases, of the "by jingo",
>  "hey presto", "presto chango", "abracadabra", "shazam", "alakazam"
>  type? I am sure there are more in widespread use, but my mind's gone
>  blank and a deadline approaches!

You seem to have left out "Hocus Pocus".

OED2 under "hocus pocus" gives a longer version: "Hocus pocus, tontus
talontus, vade celeritor jubeo."

Sesame Street introduced a new one: "A La Peanut Butter Sandwiches".

            - James A. Landau