hocus-pocus

 
Pronunciation: /həʊkəsˈpəʊkəs/

noun

[mass noun]
  • meaningless talk or activity, typically designed to trick someone or conceal the truth of a situation: some people still view psychology as a lot of hocus-pocus
  • a form of words used by a person performing conjuring tricks.
  • US deception; trickery.

Origin:

early 17th century: from hax pax max Deus adimax, a pseudo-Latin phrase used as a magic formula by conjurors