Houdini, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Houdini n.

[joc. ref. to Harry Houdini (1874–1926), US conjuror and escape artist]

1. (US) someone who avoids something, usu. work.

1955

R. Graziano Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) 26: They call me Houdini [...] My old man [...] said he never seen no kid disappear so fast when there’s work or trouble around.

2. (US drugs) marijuana [the smoker ‘escapes’ reality; cit. is prob. mis-sp.].

2001

Da Smokehouse Marijuana Gloss. 🌐 houbini [sic] [us] – weed.

In phrases

pull a Houdini (v.) (also do a Houdini)

(US) to escape, to vanish suddenly, to leave stealthily.

1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 173: We parked the car, gathered up our belongings, and started to do a Houdini out of the neighbourhood.
1958		Hughes & Bontemps Book of Negro Folklore 483: do a houdini : To disappear, to leave suddenly. If the cops come I’ll do a houdini.
1999		N. Angier Woman 353: A trustworthy person who doesn’t skitter all over the place and pull a Houdini on you.
2004		A. Goldsmith Waldo Chicken Wakes the Dead 114: It looked as though I was going to have to pull a Houdini of my own if I was going to escape the seance.
2006		R. Greenfield Exile on Main Street 162: Before any of this happens, Keith and Anita pull a Houdini. No pun intended, they take a powder.