hocus-pocus
1 of 2noun
ho·cus-po·cus ˌhō-kəs-ˈpō-kəs 
1
: sleight of hand
2
: nonsense or sham used especially to cloak deception
hocus-pocus
2 of 2verb
hocus-pocussed or hocus-pocused; hocus-pocussing or hocus-pocusing
transitive verb
: to play tricks on
Synonyms
Noun
- conjuring
- legerdemain
- magic
- prestidigitation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun
probably from hocus pocus, imitation Latin phrase used by jugglers
First Known Use
Noun
1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1774, in the meaning defined above
hocus-pocus
noun
as in magic
the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment with some well-crafted hocus-pocus, the illusionist made the dove disappear from his hands Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- magic
- prestidigitation
- legerdemain
- conjuring
- deception
- trickery
- deceptiveness
- sleight of hand