macguffin

[US]/məˈɡʌfɪn/
[UK]/məˈɡʌfɪn/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

n.An object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to trigger the plot, having little other importance.
Word Forms

Phrases & Collocations

the macguffin

macguffin plot

find the macguffin

protecting the macguffin

macguffin quest

hunt for the macguffin

macguffin mystery

steal the macguffin

ultimate macguffin

macguffin chase

Example Sentences

the secret documents served as the film's primary macguffin.

a good macguffin drives the plot forward effectively.

in this thriller, the stolen diamond is merely a macguffin.

the director uses a mysterious briefcase as a classic macguffin.

critics argue that the character's motivation is just a weak macguffin.

we need a compelling macguffin to kickstart the spy narrative.

the ancient artifact functions as a macguffin in the adventure story.

a macguffin is often completely irrelevant to the movie's true meaning.

the heroes are racing to find the macguffin before the villains do.

alfred hitchcock popularized the term macguffin in cinema.

the hidden microchip became the macguffin that everyone was fighting over.

a plot macguffin can be anything that motivates the characters to act.

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