hocus-pocusnoun [ U ]
uk/ˌhəʊ.kəsˈpəʊ.kəs/us/ˌhoʊ.kəsˈpoʊ.kəs/tricks used to deceive, or words used to hide what is happening or make it not clear:
So much of what politicians say is just hocus-pocus.
words said by a magician (= a performer who pretends to do magical things) when they are doing a trick
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Cheating & tricking
- a numbers game idiom
- bad faith
- bamboozle
- bilk
- blackmail
- fleece
- gag
- hoodwink
- impersonate
- jape
- jiggery-pokery
- lead sb a (merry) dance idiom
- poison
- scam
- scammer
- screw
- sell sb a bill of goods idiom
- send/give out (all) the wrong signals idiom
- shaft
- wool
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