The Collaborative International Dictionary
magic trick \magic trick\ n. An feat of illusion performed by an illusionist, which appears magical to naive observers.
Syn: conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, illusion, deception.
Wiktionary
n. A remarkable act carried out purportedly by magical means but actually by trickery or illusion, generally as a form of entertainment.
WordNet
n. an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers [syn: conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, conjuration, illusion, deception]
Wikipedia
Magic Trick is a short film made in 1953 by Orson Welles, for use in a show by magician Richard Himber. It involves Welles on-screen interacting with Himber off-screen as the two play a card trick, and would have been projected life-size (in black and white) during Himber's touring stage show in the 1950s.
It was the first time Welles had filmed any magic tricks since his segment in the 1944 film Follow the Boys (which in turn used tricks Welles originally staged in the 1943 The Mercury Wonder Show); and from the late 1960s onwards, Welles would perform more of these tricks in public, most notably in The Orson Welles Show (1979) and Orson Welles' Magic Show (1976-85).
Usage examples of "magic trick".
He wanted stories that connected with the past the way science did it, not using the magic trick of a time machine.
Behind her, pushing through the clapping, cheering crowd, he sees Speedy Parker, but unless Speedy's got a particularly good magic trick up his sleeve - He doesn't.
He was aware that they were all looking at Bill, and he had the feeling - again - that Ben's story of the smoke-hole was more than a thing you read about in a book and then had to try for yourself, like a chemistry experiment or a magic trick.
The knob shaker didn't go out that way unless he had some magic trick to move the window's inside thumb lock back into place once he was on the fire escape landing.