| 释义 |
mumbo jumbo|ˌmʌmbəʊ ˈdʒʌmbəʊ|
Also (esp. in sense 1) with capital initials.
[Of unknown origin.
Canon Robinson states that no light on the word can be obtained from the languages of the Niger region, to which the accounts of Moore and Park relate. The Kongo nzambi, god, might conceivably have suggested a reduplicating jingle like ‘Mumbo Jumbo’, but on geographical grounds this is an unlikely source.]
1. A grotesque idol said to have been worshipped by certain tribes or associations of Negroes.
1738F. Moore Trav. Afr. 40 A dreadful Bugbear to the Women, call'd Mumbo-Jumbo, which is what keeps the Women in awe. Ibid. 116 At Night, I was visited by a Mumbo Jumbo, an Idol, which is among the Mundingoes a kind of cunning Mystery... This is a Thing invented by the Men to keep their Wives in awe. 1799M. Park Trav. Africa iv. (ed. 2) 39 A sort of masquerade habit..which I was told..belonged to Mumbo Jumbo. This is a strange bugbear..much employed by the Pagan natives in keeping their women in subjection. 1837Hood Ode to Rae Wilson xxiv, You might have been High Priest to Mumbo-Jumbo. 1873Leland Egypt. Sketch-Bk. 83 The Savage, suggestive of wild African Mumbo-Jumbo,..will have vanished.
2. transf.
a. An object of unintelligent veneration.
1847Emerson Repr. Men, Goethe Wks. (Bohn) I. 384 The ambitious and mercenary bring their last new mumbo-jumbo, whether tariff,..railroad, Romanism, mesmerism, or California. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xxviii, The name of Mompert had become a sort of Mumbo-jumbo.
b. Obscure or meaningless talk or writing; nonsense. Also ellipt. as mumbo.
1896Farmer & Henley Slang IV. 386/2 Mumbo-Jumbo, 2. (colloquial).—Unmeaning jargon. 1931E. Pound Let. 27 Dec. (1971) 237 The continuation [of a magazine] can be called Poetry, Second Series, or new series, if that hackneyed term is still big heap mumbo on the lake shore. 1938Sun (Baltimore) 16 Nov. 10/1 The Orson Welles mumbo jumbo of a few weeks ago has revived talk of greater public control over this form of communication. 1955Times 2 May 17/3 A mumbo jumbo of meaningless words and phrases. 1969M. Pei Words in Sheep's Clothing (1970) vii. 54 Mumbo jumbo developed by educators to confound the public in general and inquisitive parents in particular. 1973Sunday Express 29 July 12/3 There is a great deal of unnecessary mumbo talked. 1975Times 14 Aug. 14/5 Labour's elected representatives..mouth the mumbo-jumbo of capitalism: ‘The pound must be kept strong’, ‘We must all buy British’.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1870Lowell Wks. (1890) III. 354 note, The Mumbo-Jumbo revenge in Collins's ode. 1895Elworthy Evil Eye 402 Formulæ to be uttered in mumbo-jumbo incantation.
Hence mumbo-ˈjumboism, worship of a mumbo jumbo.
1883E. Thring Theory & Pract. Teaching 127 The civilized Mumbo-jumboism which thinks it can award over a whole kingdom the palm of mind.
[2.] [b.] For def. read: Obscure or meaningless talk or writing; jargon intended to impress or mystify. Hence, nonsensical or ridiculous ritual, beliefs, etc.; = mummery n. 2. Occas. ellipt. as mumbo. (Further examples.)
1930V. Sackville-West Edwardians vii. 328 Sebastian..swore loudly that nothing would induce him to take part in the mumbo-jumbo of the imminent Coronation. 1952A. Grimble Pattern of Islands viii. 165 The moon was above all constraint of sorcery's mumbo-jumbo. 1980R. W. Clark Freud (1982) ix. 165 The mumbo-jumbo of Fliess's numerology, which could make almost any date appear ominous. |