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{%type%} Definitions

WordNet 3.0Copyright Princeton University
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Short "hint"

(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot.

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Usage examples (36)
  • The MacGuffin is common in films, especially thrillers.
  • That seems to be essential to the idea of MacGuffin hunting.
  • In cinematic parlance, The MacGuffin is the object, the thing that drives the plot.
  • The MacGuffin is a small notebook an Iraqi general grabbed four months earlier as the U.S. invasion began.
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We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.