hocus-pocus

[hoh-kuhs-poh-kuhs]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

1. to deceive or trick (someone)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hocus-pocus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hocus-pocus¹

C17: perhaps a dog-Latin formation invented by jugglers

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“You don’t need any hocus-pocus. All you need to do is focus.”

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on New York Times