To use the seemingly useless trinkets and objects in your close vicinity together to accomplish an otherwise impossible task.
So I took my shoelaces, tied them together, lassoed the gas petal (with a paperclip), slid a wrench down it (to change the direction of force), threaded it through the steering wheel, and attached it to the door handle, so when I opened the car door and jumped out, the force from opening the door would cause the car to let on the gas and drive towards the men with the bazookas, letting me escape.”
by Mark Hoye June 28, 2005
To make do with what is on hand at the moment; to build from scratch with whatever is on hand; to rig.
Having no money to buy a real workbench for their clubhouse, the kids macgyvered a table by using an old board placed over two barrels, and found it worked just as well.
by Donni September 5, 2005
v. To inexplicably overcome a perilous situation through the skillful use of random or otherwise unrelated objects.
by Detroit Rock citeee September 26, 2010
Main character of show by the same name. Full name Angus Macgyver. Part secret agent for government and phoenix foundation, part handyman, part mad scientist, part community service volunteer. He might refuse to use guns, but nobody could ever call him a pussy. Macgyver can battle soviet supersoldiers and serve soup at a homeless shelter all in one episode. Macgyver was the epitome of 1980s era optimism. Beats the commies, fixes the environment, cures aids, and can make a helicopter out of garbage bags and bamboo. Most importantly, he's the only guy who ever looked cool in a mullet and is probably the only guy who could get away with it now.
Who'd win in a fight? Macgyver or Col Jack O'Neal from Stargate SG-1?
Trivia: On episodes where Macgyver makes explosives from household materials, the producers always leave out one ingredient, fearing that people at home would imitate the recipe. While most inventions and scientific wizardry seen on the show probably wouldnt work too well in real life, they're all scientifically sound and Could work.
Trivia: On episodes where Macgyver makes explosives from household materials, the producers always leave out one ingredient, fearing that people at home would imitate the recipe. While most inventions and scientific wizardry seen on the show probably wouldnt work too well in real life, they're all scientifically sound and Could work.
by gooberliberation January 1, 2006
verb, to MacGyver is to juryrig something out of the items around you.
(As seen on the TV show MacGyver, starring Richard Dean Anderson)
(As seen on the TV show MacGyver, starring Richard Dean Anderson)
You just MacGyvered your way into your house after being locked out using a paper clip and a shoelace.
by Angie Lanpher September 7, 2005
by Aarontyndall May 23, 2007