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   hocus-pocus

   /həʊkəsˈpəʊkəs/

   noun

   • 1. meaningless talk or activity, typically designed to trick someone or conceal the truth of a situation: "some people still view psychology as a lot of hocus-pocus" Similar jargonunintelligible languageobscure languagemumbo jumboargle-barglegibberishbalderdashclaptrapnonsensetwaddlerubbishinformal:gobbledygookdouble Dutchhokumbullgarbagetriperotflapdoodlebellywashinformal, dated:bunkum
   • ▪ a form of words used by a person performing conjuring tricks. Similar magic wordsmagic formulamumbo jumboabracadabraincantationchantinvocationcharm
   • ▪ deception; trickery.

   Word Origin early 17th century: from hax pax max Deus adimax, a pseudo-Latin phrase used as a magic formula by conjurors.

   Scrabble Points: 19

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