Antonyms for hocus-pocus

Grammar : Noun

Spell : hoh-kuhs-poh-kuhs

Phonetic Transcription : ˈhoʊ kəsˈpoʊ kəs

Definition of hocus-pocus

Origin : 1620s, Hocas Pocas, common name of a magician or juggler, a sham-Latin invocation used in tricks, probably based on a perversion of the sacramental blessing from the Mass, Hoc est corpus meum "This is my body." The first to make this speculation on its origin apparently was English prelate John Tillotson (1630-1694).
I will speak of one man ... that went about in King James his time ... who called himself, the Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus, and so was called, because that at the playing of every Trick, he used to say, Hocus pocus, tontus tabantus, vade celeriter jubeo, a dark composure of words, to blinde the eyes of the beholders, to make his Trick pass the more currantly without discovery. [Thomas Ady, "A Candle in the Dark," 1655]

noun sleight of hand

Example sentences :

With hocus-pocus like that no dog is lured from the stove in the real world.
Extract from : « Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) » by Frank Wedekind

They regard it fixedly as hocus-pocus, childish if not wicked.
Extract from : « Tongues of Conscience » by Robert Smythe Hichens

You at any rate are not a simpleton to be taken in by any sort of hocus-pocus.
Extract from : « Meccania » by Owen Gregory

Theres your own prestige too, and all the hocus-pocus and mummery that you know how to work on them.
Extract from : « The Exiles of Faloo » by Barry Pain

His holiness made his hocus-pocus with the greatest devotion.
Extract from : « Sketches of Central Asia (1868) » by Arminius Vmbry

Why seek to limit the duration of hell by some hocus-pocus of interpretation?
Extract from : « Flowers of Freethought » by George W. Foote

What good does he suppose all this hocus-pocus is going to do us?
Extract from : « The Boy Aviators in Africa » by Wilbur Lawton

I defy any man to look between the lines and scent my hocus-pocus game.
Extract from : « The Long Chance » by Peter B. Kyne

I did so, and he began to perform all sorts of hocus-pocus over me.
Extract from : « Told by the Death's Head » by Mr Jkai

One more cabalistic performance and the hocus-pocus was ended.
Extract from : « The Witches of New York » by Q. K. Philander Doesticks

Synonyms for hocus-pocus

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019