witches' brew

American  

noun

1. a potent magical concoction supposedly prepared by witches.

2. a harmful or threatening mixture; diabolical concoction.

   a witches' brew of innuendo and rumor.

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Etymology

Origin of witches' brew

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

"It's a witches' brew of different factors to consider when you're trying to estimate herd immunity at this point," said Michaud.

From Salon

The witches' brew from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" even cited "slips of yew, silvered in the moon's eclipse" as a main ingredient.

From Salon

Not content with that, Prof Poliakoff and Mr Barnes then placed a second new fiver in a beaker and filled it with "fuming nitric acid" - a "witches' brew" of nitric acid plus dinitrogen tetroxide.

From BBC

"Phoenix" is an intoxicating witches' brew, equal parts melodrama and moral parable, that audaciously mixes diverse elements to compelling, disturbing effect.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors said he used that talent to enhance his fraud, mixing a "witches' brew" of cheaper wines he poured into bottles in an effort to fool even the most discerning of wine drinkers.

From Reuters