How to do the detachable thumb trick

In the detachable thumb trick, you seem to pull the top half of your thumb off, slide it along your hand and then put it back. Nothing is hidden. One thumb is folded down out of sight, and the bent thumb of your other hand stands in for its missing tip, with a finger covering the join. It needs no props, so you can do it anywhere.

What does the audience see?

You hold up one hand and grip your thumb with the other. Then you pull, and the end of your thumb comes away. You slide it along the side of your hand, lift it up, and then push it back on, good as new.

Wikipedia describes it as a close-up illusion and notes that its originator is unknown.

What do you need?

Just your two hands. There are no cards or gear, which is why it belongs in the same family as other impromptu magic tricks. A mirror helps while you learn.

How do you set up your hands?

The steps below assume the right thumb comes “off” and the left hand does the pulling. Swap hands if that feels more natural.

1. Hold out your right hand. Hold it in front of you horizontally, with the palm facing you.
2. Hide the right thumb’s tip. Bend your right thumb down so the tip is hidden in your palm, but the knuckle still shows.
3. Bring in the left thumb. Bend your left thumb and place it along your right forefinger, against the knuckle of your right thumb. The tip of your left thumb now looks like the end of your right thumb.
4. Cover the join. Cover the place where the two bent thumbs meet with the forefinger and middle finger of your left hand.

From the front, this looks like one hand holding the thumb of the other. Check it in the mirror before you show anyone.

How do you “remove” the thumb?

1. Pull slowly. Slowly draw your left hand away from your right. The left thumb’s tip travels with it, so it looks as if the end of your right thumb is coming away.
2. Show it off. Slide the “thumb” back and forth along your hand, or lift it up a little.
3. Put it back. Slide your left hand back until the tip meets the right thumb’s knuckle again, then take your hands apart and show your thumb is fine.

How do you make it more convincing?

• Practise in a mirror. Your aim is a smooth set-up and a clean reattachment. The mirror shows you exactly what your audience sees. Our guide on how to practise magic has more ideas.
• Use your stronger hand to pull. It may be easier when your dominant hand does the pulling.
• Add a little theatre. Ask someone to wave a wand over your hand or say “Abracadabra!” just before the thumb comes off.
• Mind your angles. The illusion is built to be seen from the front. As a suggestion, keep your audience in front of you rather than beside you. Our guide to angles in magic explains why this matters.

What helps you take it further?

If you enjoy making a part of your hand do something impossible, the thumb tip is a good tool to learn about next. It’s a different idea: a fake thumb tip worn over your real one.

• Hand Picked Astonishments Thumb Tips with Joshua Jay. A set of seven professional finger and thumb tips, plus two sets of bending buttons and complete online instructions. Its description calls it the perfect introduction if you’ve never performed with thumb tips before.
• Thumb Tip Collection by Vernet. A set of 12 different finger tip models with a 90-minute instructional video covering over 30 routines for close-up and parlour magic.

For another trick you can do with nothing but your hands and a rubber band, try the jumping rubber band trick.

Frequently asked questions