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This is more an etymological query as anything. Andy Nyman has an effect called "Dead Cutting" in which he gets three spectators to cut to specific cards. In the patter he states that dead cutting is something he made up, but I know that the term is widely used, certainly on these hallowed boards. Is the term Nyman's invention?

Google certainly seems to think the phrase is his. It certainly came into much wider use in a magical context in the years following Get Nyman's release. The first time I saw it was when Derren Brown did it in the first series of Mind Control but he didn't call it dead cutting; didn't call it anything, actually.

Yeah, I think it's widely used due to Nyman's routine. I expect folk think it's "real" because it sounds real - which is why the routine works so well.

...and of course on "Get Nyman" he's not really doing it, there's some cheating going on. But doing it for real isn't that hard if you practice a bit... (see other thread)

TheStoner wrote:...and of course on "Get Nyman" he's not really doing it, there's some cheating going on. But doing it for real isn't that hard if you practice a bit... (see other thread)

I'll vouch for that after seeing The Stoner's demonstration, very impressive.

dead cutting is real...

i thought andy nyman just says he made it up, as in the story he tells at the beginning of the effect...and then it adds to the suspense of what he "really" is doing...

i can dead cut, so whatever you wanna call it...that actual skill is a real one..just ask david berglas...

Is there another word for it though?

Cold cutting, direct cutting and dead cutting are the only three I've ever heard used with the latter most common.

Thanks. It was the origin of the term rather than the ability that I was chiefly interested in. I've only ever heard it described as deadcutting. I like the idea that it was a term Nyman came up with.