Macguffin (Noun)
Meaning
(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot; "the McGuffin was a key element of Alfred Hitchcock's films".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The briefcase full of money in the movie was a classic McGuffin, motivating the characters' actions without being fully explained.
- In the spy thriller, the stolen microfilm served as the McGuffin, driving the plot forward and creating tension.
- The director deliberately left the McGuffin, a mysterious box, unexplained to keep the audience engaged and curious.
- The movie's McGuffin, a powerful artifact, was the central plot device that sparked the adventure.
- The film's McGuffin, a valuable necklace, was cleverly used to distract the audience from the true twist at the end.