Hocus-pocus

Definitions

1. Some ineffectual action or speech, especially if intended to divert attention; nonsense.
   uncountable, usually
2. Religious or supernatural phenomena one holds to be nonsense or mere trickery; superstitious mumbo-jumbo.
   derogatory, uncountable, usually
3. Some action carried out to bring about change as if by magic; a trick; sleight of hand, trickery.
   US, also, attributive, countable, uncountable, usually
4. A conjurer.
   countable, obsolete, usually
5. A conjurer's trick.
   countable, obsolete, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“How was it possible that I, a rational man, not unacquainted with the leading scientific facts of our history, and hitherto an absolute and utter disbeliever in all the hocus-pocus which in Europe goes by the name⟳ of the supernatural, could believe⟳ that I had within the last⟳ few minutes been engaged in conversation with a woman two thousand and odd years old?”

“The ego thinks that his local time and space is all there is to reality, and that the busy affairs of state and trade⟳ are more important than a lot of obscurantist hocus-pocus.”

CEFR level