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{{Pottermoreold}}
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
|name=Hocus pocus
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|name=Hocus Pocus
 
|incantation=hoke-us poke-us
 
|incantation=hoke-us poke-us
 
|type=
 
|type=
 
|hand=
 
|hand=
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|effect=Unknown mischief-making
|effect=None. Used by [[Harry Potter]] to frighten his [[Muggle]] [[Dudley Dursley|cousin]].
 
 
|}}
 
|}}
 
{{Quote|[[Jiggery pokery]]! Hocus pocus...[[squiggly wiggly]]...|[[Harry Potter]] frightens [[Dudley Dursley]] in [[1992]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
 
{{Quote|[[Jiggery pokery]]! Hocus pocus...[[squiggly wiggly]]...|[[Harry Potter]] frightens [[Dudley Dursley]] in [[1992]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
   
'''Hocus pocus''' was one of three pretend [[spell]]s that [[Harry Potter]] used to frighten away his [[Muggle]] cousin [[Dudley Dursley]] in [[1992]].
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'''Hocus Pocus''' was one of three [[spell]]s that [[Harry Potter]] uttered the [[incantation]]s of to scare off his [[Muggle]] cousin [[Dudley Dursley]] in [[1992]]. He claimed that they could set a hedge on [[fire]].
   
Hocus pocus is also a term that is sometimes used pejoratively by [[muggle]]s to refer to [[magic]], trying to cast them as mere [[magician]]s. In [[1997]], when worried that Harry Potter was planning to "get [[4 Privet Drive|the house]]," [[Vernon Dursley]] stated "You want us out of the way and then you're going to do a bit of hocus pocus and before we know it the deeds will be in your name and –"
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Hocus pocus is also a term that is sometimes used pejoratively by [[muggle]]s to refer to [[magic]], trying to cast [[Wizardkind|wizards]] as mere [[magician]]s. In [[1997]], when worried that Harry Potter was planning to "get [[4 Privet Drive|the house]]," [[Vernon Dursley]] stated "You want us out of the way and then you're going to do a bit of hocus pocus and before we know it the deeds will be in your name and –"
   
The phrase was featured in the title of the book ''[[Pokery & Hocus Pocus]]'', written by [[Brian Gagwilde]], and was also used for the title of a regular [[Hocus-Pocus (Daily Prophet segment)|column]] in the ''[[Daily Prophet]]''.
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The phrase was featured in the title of the book ''[[Jiggery Pokery and Hocus Pocus]]'', written by [[Brian Gagwilde]], and was also used for the title of a regular [[Hocus-Pocus (Daily Prophet segment)|column]] in the ''[[Daily Prophet]]''.
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The term is occasionally employed even by wizards, though still as a put-down of sorts. When speaking with [[Quirinus Quirrell]] regarding his protection of the [[Philosopher's Stone]], [[Severus Snape]] commented "--your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."<ref name="PS13">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', Chapter 13 - (''Nicholas Flamel'')</ref>
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 
*[[Magician]]
 
*[[Magician]]
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  +
==Behind the scenes==
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*While Harry seemed to be merely making up nonsense spells, the appearance of the spell in the title ''Jiggery Pokery and Hocus Pocus'', described as containing "mischief-making spells," suggests that it could in fact be a real spell.<ref name="pottermore">''[[Pottermore]]''</ref>
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]] ''{{1st}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st Mention}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' {{1st}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Mention}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Mention}}
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*''[[Pottermore]]'' {{C|In book title}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Nonsense incantations]]
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[[Category:Spells]]

Revision as of 18:35, 17 August 2013

"Jiggery pokery! Hocus pocus...squiggly wiggly..."
Harry Potter frightens Dudley Dursley in 1992[src]

Hocus Pocus was one of three spells that Harry Potter uttered the incantations of to scare off his Muggle cousin Dudley Dursley in 1992. He claimed that they could set a hedge on fire.

Hocus pocus is also a term that is sometimes used pejoratively by muggles to refer to magic, trying to cast wizards as mere magicians. In 1997, when worried that Harry Potter was planning to "get the house," Vernon Dursley stated "You want us out of the way and then you're going to do a bit of hocus pocus and before we know it the deeds will be in your name and –"

The phrase was featured in the title of the book Jiggery Pokery and Hocus Pocus, written by Brian Gagwilde, and was also used for the title of a regular column in the Daily Prophet.

The term is occasionally employed even by wizards, though still as a put-down of sorts. When speaking with Quirinus Quirrell regarding his protection of the Philosopher's Stone, Severus Snape commented "--your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."[1]

Etymology

Hocus pocus, like abracadabra, is a magic word commonly used by magicians, typically when they perform an illusion.[2] In British English, hocus pocus is also a general term meaning "contrived nonsense," similar to rubbish, hogwash, or baloney.[2] The origins of the term are unknown, but John Tillotson, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1691 to 1694, theorised that it might have arisen as a mockery of the Roman Catholic liturgy of the Mass, which features the Latin phrase Hoc est corpus meum ("This is my body").[2][3]

See also

Behind the scenes

  • While Harry seemed to be merely making up nonsense spells, the appearance of the spell in the title Jiggery Pokery and Hocus Pocus, described as containing "mischief-making spells," suggests that it could in fact be a real spell.[4]

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 13 - (Nicholas Flamel)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Hocus Pocus (magic)" on Wikipedia
  3. "Hocus-pocus" on the Online Etymology Dictionary
  4. Pottermore