mumbo jumbo
UK /mʌmbəʊˈdʒʌmbəʊ/ · US /ˌmʌmboʊˈdʒʌmboʊ/ noun
Forms mumbo jumbos mumbo-jumbo
- noun (historical) A deity or other supernatural being said to have been worshipped by certain West African peoples; an idol.
- noun (religion) Any object of superstition; religious words and/or actions which are seen as superstitious or fraudulent. “Rev. Quack's healing services are little more than mumbo jumbo.”
- noun (by extension) Any confusing or meaningless speech; nonsense, gibberish. “Football lingo is mumbo jumbo to me.”
Synonyms
absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin apple grease applesauce bafflegab balderdash balls baloney banana oil Bandini baragouin batcrap batshit bilgewater blah blah-blah blah-blah-blah blather blatherskite
Etymology
Probably from Mandinka maamajomboo (“mask; masked dancer”); or perhaps from /l/-vocalization in the words mumble and jumble.
Webster’s 1913
- An object of superstitious homage and fear. Carlyle.
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mumbo jumbo”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details