hocus-pocus

[ hoh-kuhs-poh-kuhs ]
/ ˈhoʊ kəsˈpoʊ kəs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hocus-pocus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.
a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.
trickery; deception.
unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc.

verb (used with object), ho·cus-po·cused, ho·cus-po·cus·ing or (especially British) ho·cus-po·cussed, ho·cus-po·cus·sing.

to play tricks on or with.

verb (used without object), ho·cus-po·cused, ho·cus-po·cus·ing or (especially British) ho·cus-po·cussed, ho·cus-po·cus·sing.

to perform tricks; practice trickery or deception.

Origin of hocus-pocus

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

Words nearby hocus-pocus

hockle, hockney, hockshop, hocktide, hocus, hocus-pocus, hod, hod carrier, hodden, hodeida, hodge

Words related to hocus-pocus

abracadabra, mystification, nonsense, hoax, incantation, cant, artifice, jargon, cheating, deception, trickery, imposture, delusion, spell, flimflam, chicanery, charm, deceit, swindle, humbug

Example sentences from the Web for hocus-pocus

British Dictionary definitions for hocus-pocus

hocus-pocus
/ (ˈhəʊkəsˈpəʊkəs) /

noun

trickery or chicanery
mystifying jargon
an incantation used by conjurors or magicians when performing tricks
conjuring skill or practice

verb -cuses, -cusing, -cused, -cuses, -cussing or -cussed

to deceive or trick (someone)

Word Origin for hocus-pocus

C17: perhaps a dog-Latin formation invented by jugglers