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

One loaf, and she was a shoo-in for the baker’s job, though I suspect she may have knocked out the competition with some hocus-pocus, too, if rumors are to be believed.”

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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.”

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

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