| 释义 |
ho·cus-po·cus
I. noun
also ho·kus-po·kus \|hōkə|spōkəs\
(-es)
Etymology: probably invented by jugglers in imitation of Latin
1.
a. obsolete : juggler, trickster
b. archaic : a juggler's trick or art : sleight of hand
2. : words or a formula used (as by jugglers) in pretended incantations without regard to the usual meaning
3. : nonsense or sham used or intended to cloak deception
< the hocus-pocus of city politics >
broadly : something that confuses, misleads, or is difficult to comprehend
< the tape recordings, through some electronic hocus-pocus, will retain all the visual quality of the original telecast — Newsweek >
II. verb
(hocus-pocussed or hocus-pocused ; hocus-pocussed or hocus-pocused ; hocus-pocussing or hocus-pocusing ; hocus-pocusses or hocus-pocuses)
intransitive verb
: to play the part of a conjurer; broadly : trick, cheat
transitive verb
: to play tricks on : trick, befool
< got through hocus-pocussing the jury — Shelby Foote > |