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

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

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

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

do a disappearing act

Informal To vanish.See also: act, disappear