macguffins

Meanings

• noun

  An object that is not important in itself, but drives the plot forward in a story, especially a suspense movie.

  - "The stolen painting was just a macguffin to distract the audience from the real crime."
  - "In the movie 'Casablanca', the letters of exile were a macguffin that set the story in motion."

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Variants

List of all variants of macguffins that leads to same result
MacGuffin , MacGuffins , McGuffin , McGuffins

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Derived from the Scottish novel 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' by John Buchan, published in 1915.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'macguffin' has been used in various forms of media outside of literature and film, including video games and music.

2. In the video game 'Portal', the 'Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device' is a macguffin that allows the player to create portals.

3. In the song 'MacGuffin' by They Might Be Giants, the lyrics describe a series of seemingly unrelated objects that could be considered macguffins.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. plot device: A macguffin is a specific type of plot device, often used in mystery and suspense stories.

2. deus ex machina: Unlike a macguffin, a deus ex machina is an unexpected solution to a problem, often introduced late in a story.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'macguffin' has become a popular trope in literature and film, often used to describe a plot device that serves no real purpose other than to advance the story.

How to Memorize "macguffins"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a prop or object that seems important but ultimately has no significance in the story.
   - Visualize a red herring, something that leads you in one direction but ultimately turns out to be unrelated to the main plot.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'macguffin' with a meaningless object or plot device.
   - Think of a plot twist that hinges on an insignificant object.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that a macguffin is a plot device that drives the story forward but ultimately has no real significance.
   - Think of the acronym M.A.C.G.U.F.F.I.N.S: Meaningless And Central Goal Used For Forwarding Important Narrative Structure.

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