Hokum

Origin

The word "hokum" likely emerged in the early 20th century, a clever linguistic cocktail shaken from two existing terms of deception. It's thought to be a playful blend of "hocus-pocus," the magical incantation of conjurers and illusionists, and "bunkum," which itself refers to empty, deceptive talk. Imagine a vaudeville showman, perhaps, needing a snappy word for the theatrical tricks and false promises he peddled. From the magician's stage, where smoke and mirrors created an illusion of grandeur, and the politician's stump, where grand words often masked little substance, "hokum" captured the essence of appealing nonsense, cementing its place as a go-to for anything that looked good but lacked truth.