"That is one MacGuaff computer Rob has, he installed 24 gigabytes of RAM".
"That is a MacGuaff can of bean salad that you bought from the wholesaler today, looks like it was meant for catering, it's somewhere in the region of 10 litres."
"That is a MacGuaff can of bean salad that you bought from the wholesaler today, looks like it was meant for catering, it's somewhere in the region of 10 litres."
by cititracker April 30, 2010
Get the MacGuaff mug.in film, a plot device that has no specific meaning or purpose other than to advance the story; any situation that motivates the action of a film either artificially or substantively.
Originally coined by Alfred Hitchcock, based on a story where this device was used in a story set on a Scottish train.
(sometimes called a McGuffin)
Originally coined by Alfred Hitchcock, based on a story where this device was used in a story set on a Scottish train.
(sometimes called a McGuffin)
by soma616 May 16, 2006
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A plot device that motivates the characters and advance the story, particularly one whose importance is accepted completely by the story's characters, yet from the audience's perspective it might be minimally explained or may test their suspension of disbelief if it is scrutinized. The device, usually an object, is common in films, especially thrillers.
It is important that the audience never actually see the MacGuffin. I dunno why.
The term "MacGuffin" was invented by Alfred Hitchcock; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, he explained the term in a 1939 lecture at Columbia University:
In regard to the tune, we have a name in the studio, and we call it the 'MacGuffin'. It is the mechanical element that usually crops up in any story. In crook stories it is always the necklace and in spy stories it is always the papers.
It is important that the audience never actually see the MacGuffin. I dunno why.
The term "MacGuffin" was invented by Alfred Hitchcock; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, he explained the term in a 1939 lecture at Columbia University:
In regard to the tune, we have a name in the studio, and we call it the 'MacGuffin'. It is the mechanical element that usually crops up in any story. In crook stories it is always the necklace and in spy stories it is always the papers.
Interviewed in 1966 by François Truffaut, Hitchcock illustrated the term "MacGuffin" with this story:
It might be a Scottish name, taken from a story about two men in a train. One man says, 'What's that package up there in the baggage rack?' And the other answers, 'Oh that's a McGuffin.' The first one asks 'What's a McGuffin?' 'Well' the other man says, 'It's an apparatus for trapping lions in the Scottish Highlands.' The first man says, 'But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,' and the other one answers 'Well, then that's no McGuffin!' So you see, a McGuffin is nothing at all.
It might be a Scottish name, taken from a story about two men in a train. One man says, 'What's that package up there in the baggage rack?' And the other answers, 'Oh that's a McGuffin.' The first one asks 'What's a McGuffin?' 'Well' the other man says, 'It's an apparatus for trapping lions in the Scottish Highlands.' The first man says, 'But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,' and the other one answers 'Well, then that's no McGuffin!' So you see, a McGuffin is nothing at all.
by Laser Potato July 15, 2008
Get the macguffin mug.The absolute most awesome person alive. Anyone who has this name is also considered a god. He/She has a destiny of lots of money. MacGuffles is also a state of mind that's better than NIRVANA.
MacGuffles
by emacguffie16 April 25, 2011
Get the MacGuffles mug.state of an object whose sole use is to advance the scenario, by its preciousness, its misunderstanding by science, or its emotional link by the main character.
by ovanossar August 7, 2018
Get the macguffinium mug.Dude, I loved the game "death stranding" but I feel like those "chiral christals" were a bit of a macguffinite
by Tonk of the standard issue July 27, 2021
Get the macguffinite mug.Sex from a certain girl that is extremley valued to a certain group of people to a point where it is talked about as the holy grail in life.
"I finally got to tap MacGuffin Coochie! It is just as I have dreamed and as incredible as you have to described it to be!"
by Itain'tObeeezy November 2, 2024
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