A magician’s secret: why "slight of hand" deserves a disappearing act

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 10/10/2024, 07:50

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Slight of hand or sleight of hand. What's correct?

Spelling error and homophone mistake

Why do people make this mistake?

People often incorrectly hear or remember the phrase "sleight of hand" as "slight of hand" because "sleight" is less commonly used in everyday language and sounds similar to the more common word "slight".

What is correct?

"Sleight of hand" is the correct phrase. It refers to a magician's skillful use of hand movements to perform tricks or illusions. The word "sleight" is derived from an Old Norse term meaning cunning or skill. It's important to use "sleight" instead of "slight" because "slight" generally means small in degree or insignificant, which doesn't convey the intended meaning of skill or dexterity.

Examples of correct usage

The magician amazed the audience with his sleight of hand, making the coin disappear.
She learned the art of sleight of hand to entertain her friends with card tricks.