hocus
Americanverb (used with object)
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to play a trick on; hoax; cheat.
-
to stupefy with drugged liquor.
-
to drug (liquor).
verb
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to take in; trick
-
to stupefy, esp with a drug
-
to add a drug to (a drink)
Etymology
Origin of hocus
First recorded in 1665–75; short for hocus-pocus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“What he did for those 20 hours is hocus pocus,” Richards said in urging jurors to reject consideration of the image.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 15, 2021
It will be revealed that Bran is both Brandon the Wall Builder and the Night King by some time travel Three-Eyed Raven hocus pocus.
From The Guardian • May 1, 2019
“We’ve always been interested in how music impacts the mentally ill, but some scientists shun the idea of researching this because it’s been viewed as hocus pocus,” he said.
From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2018
Or you could say it was an unintended pulling back of the curtain on all the hocus pocus that goes into healthcare costs.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2016
For myself, I love not such hocus pocus; but if it be a matter of Cuthbert's safety, I will e'en go and listen to her tale.
From The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn A Story of the Days of the Gunpowder Plot by Everett-Green, Evelyn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
