meaningless words used as a formula by conjurers; sleight of hand, trickery
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Hocus-pocus Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
hocus-pocus
n : verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way [syn: trickery, slickness, hanky panky, jiggery-pokery, skulduggery, skullduggery]
Meaning
Trickery or magic.
Origin
Words used by conjurers and jugglers when performing tricks from the early 17th century. The performer used a string of cod latin to distract the audience - 'Hocus pocus, toutous talontus, vade celerita jubes'. Several jugglers in Tudor England came to be known by this name. There are various attempts at an explanation of the origin: one that it is a parody of the consecration of the Catholic Mass 'Hoc est corpus...'; another that it was the name of a mythic wizard - 'Ochus Bochus'.
© 2004 The Phrase Finder. Take a look at Phrase Finder’s sister site, the Phrases Thesaurus, a subscription service for professional writers & language lovers.Trickery or magic.
Origin
Words used by conjurers and jugglers when performing tricks from the early 17th century. The performer used a string of cod latin to distract the audience - 'Hocus pocus, toutous talontus, vade celerita jubes'. Several jugglers in Tudor England came to be known by this name. There are various attempts at an explanation of the origin: one that it is a parody of the consecration of the Catholic Mass 'Hoc est corpus...'; another that it was the name of a mythic wizard - 'Ochus Bochus'.
Noun
1. verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
(synonym) trickery, slickness, hanky panky, jiggery-pokery, skulduggery, skullduggery
(hypernym) misrepresentation, deceit, deception
Hocus-pocus Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
Hocus pocus, hocus-pocus, or hokus pokus is a term used by magicians; usually the magic words spoken when bringing about some sort of change, which originated as a stage name for the magician William Vincent. It has been stipualted that the term rose as a pejorative against Catholics, based on a perversion of the sacramental blessing (the Words of Institution) Hoc est corpus meum ("This is my body").
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