hocus-pocus

noun

1. verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
2. a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation."This claim is substantiated by the fact that in the Netherlands, the words ‘Hocus pocus’ are usually accompanied by the additional words ‘pilatus pas’, and this is said to be based on a post-Reformation parody of the traditional Catholic ritual of transubstantiation during mass, being a Dutch corruption of the Latin words ‘Hoc est corpus’, meaning ‘this is (my) body’, and the credo ‘sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est’, meaning ‘under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried’."