pull it out of the hat

pull it out of the hat

To find sudden and/or unexpected success in a situation that seemed otherwise hopeless or likely to fail. An allusion to the classic magic trick of pulling a rabbit (or other object) out of a seemingly empty hat. Wow, I didn't think you'd have the programming ready in time for launch day, but you really pulled it out of the hat! I don't know how you did it in so little time, but you really pulled it out of the hat throwing this party!See also: hat, of, out, pull