disappearing act
noun1
A sudden disappearance; the act of leaving unexpectedly.
- He suggested that we do a disappearing act some morning as soon as we got to the woods and he would make sure that the alarm would not be given […]1982, William Repka, Dangerous Patriots: Canada's Unknown Prisoners of War:
- Onions do a disappearing act as they cook, shrinking about 80 percent of their volume.2001, Richard Azzolini, There's a Chef in Your Freezer:
1 more example
- It was a remarkable climax to a match that ended with another of those disappearing acts from John Terry only to re-emerge, in full kit, so he could climb the steps, shake the hands of Eusébio, Michel Platini and all the other dignitaries, then help Frank Lampard to lift the trophy.15 May 2013, Daniel Taylor, “Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic climbs highest to sink Benfica”, in The Guardian:
- Related terms
- French leave