How Do You Spell HOCUS POCUSED?

Pronunciation: [hˈə͡ʊkəs pˈɒkjuːsd] (IPA)

The phrase "hocus pocused" may seem like an odd spelling for a magical incantation, but it has a long history in English. The first part of the phrase, "hocus," comes from the Latin phrase "hoc est corpus," which means "this is the body" and was used in the Roman Catholic Eucharist. "Pocus" likely comes from the word "poker," which was used to mean "to poke or prod." The word is pronounced /ˈhoʊkəs ˈpoʊkəst/ in IPA phonetic transcription.

HOCUS POCUSED Meaning and Definition

  1. "Hocus pocused" is a colloquial phrase that does not have an official dictionary definition. However, it is often used in informal contexts to convey the idea of deceptive manipulation or trickery. The term originates from the early 17th century and is believed to be derived from the magical incantation "Hocus pocus," which magicians use to distract and deceive their audience during a magic trick or illusion.

    When someone is described as having been "hocus pocused," it implies that they have been swindled, fooled, or duped through clever manipulation or deceitful tactics. The phrase can also be used to describe situations or actions that involve a deliberate attempt to mislead or trick others.

    The term "hocus pocused" is often employed metaphorically to explain when someone has fallen victim to a scam, fraud, or other forms of deception. It implies that the person was caught off guard or taken in by the trickery, often resulting in negative consequences or loss.

    Therefore, "hocus pocused" reflects the notion of being deceived or manipulated through cunning and artful means, commonly associated with acts of fraud, trickery, or deceit. This informal term showcases the colloquial nature of language and conveys the concept of someone being misled or taken advantage of in a figurative sense.

Common Misspellings for HOCUS POCUSED

  • gocus pocused
  • bocus pocused
  • nocus pocused
  • jocus pocused
  • uocus pocused
  • yocus pocused
  • hicus pocused
  • hkcus pocused
  • hlcus pocused
  • hpcus pocused
  • h0cus pocused
  • h9cus pocused
  • hoxus pocused
  • hovus pocused
  • hofus pocused
  • hodus pocused
  • hocys pocused
  • hochs pocused
  • hocjs pocused
  • hocis pocused

Etymology of HOCUS POCUSED

The word "hocus pocus" is believed to have originated in the early 17th century in England, although its precise etymology is uncertain. It is commonly used to refer to a phrase or formula used by magicians to create a mysterious effect or trick.

One theory suggests that "hocus pocus" is derived from the Latin phrase "Hoc est corpus meum", which means "This is my body" and is part of a Catholic priest's ritual while consecrating the bread and wine during Eucharist. It is possible that this phrase, due to its unfamiliarity and mystical nature, was parodied by conjurers to mimic a similar kind of incantation or magical words.

Another theory suggests that "hocus pocus" might have originated as a nonsense phrase created to imitate the sound of magical incantations or words of power, without carrying a specific meaning.