Hokum
/ˈhoʊkəm/noun
Nonsense or deceptive talk, especially something intended to impress or mislead.
Did you know?Hokum first spread in American show business as a term for cheap, crowd-pleasing nonsense, and its exact origin is uncertain, which only adds to its con-man energy.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th to Early 20th Century
English
hokum
“Show-business slang for nonsense, cheap sentiment, or deceptive crowd-pleasing material.”
19th Century
American English
hokum
“A theatrical or comic term for fake or contrived effects meant to fool an audience.”
Uncertain
English
possibly from hocus-pocus
“Often suggested as a source, but not securely proven.”
17th Century
English
hocus-pocus
“A conjuring formula used by magicians, later meaning trickery or nonsense.”