Howard Jacobson

There's a simple arithmetical logic at work. Build more unaffordable and not always architecturally sympathetic apartments, watch the rents rise, the tarts leave, the small shops, production offices and design studios close down, and hey presto, we have another fashionable London suburb indistinguishable from the rest.

British Novelist

Tom Hodgkinson

Management gurus in general are, I think, best avoided. All too often they reduce your working life to a list of rules to be followed. Targets are aimed at. Goals kicked at. You then break the rules or forget them and, hey presto, you start beating yourself up.

British Writer

Jay Kristoff

There are plenty of genre-crossover books, films, and games out there, but to do the job well, you have to do more than just smoosh a couple of 'in' concepts together, and hey presto, instant millions.

Australian Author

Jenna Morasca

Sand is one of the best exfoliates out there! Take a handful of sand and rub it on your skin in small circles. When you're done, wash it off and presto... you get spa like skin, without the price tag.

American Model

Ella Woodward

It's about making small changes at first and adding foods to your diet before you take any away; start with one extra vegetable or fruit at every meal, and hey, presto, that's 21 portions a week.

English Writer

Craig Brown

The first sign builders are on their way is when - hey, presto! - a skip appears outside your house.

English Critic

Often used by magicians to highlight a magical transformation or sudden occurrence.

Magic Expression

Best used in informal settings, as it can sound playful or lighthearted.

Informal Occasions

Use 'presto' to add drama or showiness, often with a touch of humor.

Dramatic Effect

In music, 'presto' refers to a very fast speed and creates an energetic mood.

Musical Tempo

When reading music, 'presto' instructs musicians on how quickly to play the notes.

Musical Instructions

Pieces or movements marked 'presto' usually require a lot of energy and skill from musicians.

Energetic Pieces

 and threw a bucket of water at it. Presto! Then when we went to press, the printer put a spot gloss on the ink and it really looked like it was running. Not long after it came out, Augusten was waylaid in an airport and he was hiding out in the bookstore

The hilarious art of...

 teaspoons of glycerine mix them all together with a dash of water and finally add one teaspoon of peppermint and hey presto do-it-yourself toothpaste for a proper test of its effectiveness