hocus-pocus

American  

[hoh-kuhs-poh-kuhs] / ˈhoʊ kəsˈpoʊ kəs /

noun

1. a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.

2. a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.

3. trickery; deception.

   Synonyms:

   double-dealing , hanky-panky , dishonesty , deceit

4. unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc.

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verb (used with object)

hocus-pocused, hocus-pocusing hocus-pocussed, hocus-pocussing

1. to play tricks on or with.

verb (used without object)

hocus-pocused, hocus-pocusing hocus-pocussed, hocus-pocussing

1. to perform tricks; practice trickery or deception.

hocus-pocus British  

/ ˈhəʊkəsˈpəʊkəs /

noun

1. trickery or chicanery

2. mystifying jargon

3. an incantation used by conjurors or magicians when performing tricks

4. conjuring skill or practice

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verb

1. to deceive or trick (someone)

Etymology

Origin of hocus-pocus

First recorded in 1615–25; pseudo-Latin rhyming formula used by jugglers and magicians

Example Sentences

Sometimes this hocus-pocus worked wonders; at other times it felt like cheap tricks.

From Los Angeles Times

Until we all pay attention to what matters, the fee hocus-pocus will never stop.

From The Wall Street Journal

The happy resolution is earned by more than hocus-pocus.

From Los Angeles Times

When Becky isn’t dealing with the repercussions of using hocus-pocus to fix her life, she’s conversing with her dead daughter or stepping into Rebecca’s memories.

From New York Times

The idea was to dismantle the hocus-pocus of concert dance, and in her early work, Tharp came on stern like her Judson elders.

From New York Times