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Meaning & use

magic charm

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌmædʒɪk ˈtʃɑːm/
US/ˌmædʒɪk ˈtʃɑːrm/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A small object, spell or phrase believed to hold supernatural power to protect its owner or bring good fortune.

    Grammar: Countable: a magic charm, two magic charms.

    Patterns

    • a magic charm against something
    • a magic charm for something

    Grandmother kept a magic charm in her purse to ward off bad luck.

    The sailors believed the carved shell was a magic charm that calmed storms.

    In the story, the girl wears a magic charm that makes her invisible.

  2. nounsingularfigurativehumorous

    A seemingly mysterious quality or trick that makes something work unusually well, said half-jokingly.

    Grammar: Usually singular and used humorously, as in it worked like a magic charm.

    Patterns

    • work like a magic charm

    Her smile worked like a magic charm on the grumpy ticket clerk.

    There is no magic charm that makes studying painless.

    He treated the lucky pen as a magic charm before every exam.

Word forms

pluralmagic charms

Common combinations

carry a magic charm
He carries a magic charm in his pocket whenever he flies.
wear a magic charm
The knight wore a magic charm around his neck.
work like a magic charm
The new routine worked like a magic charm on the fussy baby.
break the magic charm
The prince had to break the magic charm to free the village.
powerful magic charm
A powerful magic charm hid the cottage from strangers.

Synonyms and how they differ

talisman
A talisman is a more formal word for an object thought to bring luck, and it is rarely used for spoken spells.
amulet
An amulet is specifically worn or carried for protection against harm, while a magic charm may also grant wishes.
spell
A spell is the words or ritual that produces magic, not the object that holds the power.
fetish
Fetish in this older anthropological sense names an object worshipped for supposed power, and it now sounds dated or loaded.

Word family

charm noun
an object or act thought to have magic power; also personal appeal
charm verb
to delight or enchant someone
charming adjective
pleasing and attractive
magical adjective
having or seeming to have magic

Commonly confused: magic charm or lucky charm?

magic charm vs lucky charm

A lucky charm is carried for good fortune only, while a magic charm may do more, such as protect or transform.

Practice

In the fairy tale, the old woman gave the boy a ___ that kept wolves away.

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