hocus
Americanverb (used with object)
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to play a trick on; hoax; cheat.
-
to stupefy with drugged liquor.
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to drug (liquor).
verb
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to take in; trick
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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
Imam Hasan, who is based at the Al-Emaan Centre in Bromley, Kent, said ruqya is misunderstood and rejected myths of "spells, magic wands or hocus pocus" being involved.
From BBC • Sep. 20, 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
Recent geographers," said Asabri, "unwilling to take any statement for granted, have, after prolonged and scientific investigation, discovered that this idea is hocus pocus.
From It, and Other Stories by Morris, Gouverneur
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.
