hocus-pocus: Meaning and Definition of

ho•cus-po•cus

Pronunciation: (hō'kus-pō'kus), [key]
— n., v., -cused, -cus•ing -cussed, -cus•sing.
—n.
  1. a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.
  2. a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.
  3. trickery; deception.
  4. unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc.
—v.t.
  1. to play tricks on or with.
—v.i.
  1. to perform tricks; practice trickery or deception.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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