Jedi mind trick

English

WOTD – 4 May 2023

Etymology

From the Star Wars films, the first of which—Star Wars—was released in 1977. In the films, members of the Jedi order are able to use a metaphysical power called the Force to implant suggestions in other people’s minds to induce them to act as the Jedi wish.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˌd͡ʒɛdaɪ ˈmaɪnd tɹɪk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Je‧di mind trick

Noun

Jedi mind trick (plural Jedi mind tricks)

1. (idiomatic) A mental feat such as apparently inducing someone to act a certain way or reading someone's mind, achieved as if by magic or telepathy.
   • 1987, Eddie Murphy Raw, spoken by Eddie Murphy:

     I watched the show to see what kind of guy he was, and the character on the show ain't too bright, so I figured if he came up to me I could use the Jedi mind trick on him. Mr T would go, “I heard you did some jokes about me!” “No, you didn't!” “Maybe I didn't!”

   • 1998 September 29, “Thieves in the Night”, in Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, performed by Black Star:

     Screamin’ “Brand new!”, when they just sanitized the old shit / Suppose it's just another clever Jedi mind trick

   • 2005, Lou Schuler, Alwyn Cosgrove, “Charting Your Progress”, in The New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle, London: Avery, →ISBN, part 4 (Programs), page 205:

     You have to estimate your own starting weights, using trial and error. There's no way to get around it. I've met personal trainers who were phenomenally good at figuring out their clients' starting weights. […] Maybe it's some kind of Jedi mind trick. But unless you have one of those trainers, you have to figure it out on your own.

   • 2006 May 2, Jim Butcher, chapter 5, in Proven Guilty […] (The Dresden Files; 8), New York, N.Y.: Roc, →ISBN, page 27:

     "It's the Fourth Law of Magic," I said. "You aren't allowed to control the mind of another human. But … hell, it's of the first things a lot of these stupid kids try—the old Jedi mind trick. Sometimes they start with maybe getting homework overlooked by a teacher or convincing their parents to buy them a car. […]"

   • 2007, Paula Chase, “Hottie Jedi Mind Tricks”, in Don’t Get It Twisted (A Del Rio Bay Clique Novel), New York, N.Y.: Dafina Books for Young Readers, Kensington Publishing Corp., →ISBN, page 60:

     Brian was a good diversion. For every girl that went loopy over him, there was one less chick she had to worry about being in Craig's face. All she had to do was stay as far away from Brian as possible … you know, just in case that Jedi mind trick thing melted the BF shield.

Translations

mental feat achieved as if by magic or telepathy

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 絕地控心術 / 绝地控心术 (Juédìkòngxīnshù)

• Dutch: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: jeditemppu
• Macedonian: џе́дајски у́мствен трик m (džédajski úmstven trik)
• Portuguese: truque mental jedi m

Further reading

• the Force on Wikipedia.Wikipedia