mojo, voodoo

7:36

Elizabeth Warren has her 2020 mojo back

CNN

122K views3 days ago

voodoo

Pronunciation: /ˈvuːduː/

Translate voodoo | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of voodoo

noun

[mass noun]

• a black religious cult practised in the Caribbean and the southern US, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession: they can use voodoo to help people if you understand voodoo you can talk to these spirits [as modifier]:a voodoo doll a voodoo priest
• [count noun] a person skilled in voodoo.

verb (voodoos, voodooing, voodooed)

[with object]

• affect (someone) by the practice of voodoo: someone had voodooed her

Derivatives

voodooism
noun

voodooist
noun

Origin:

early 19th century: from Louisiana French, from Kwa vodũ

Definition of voodoo economics

noun

[often treated as singular] US informal

• an economic policy perceived as being unrealistic and ill-advised, in particular a policy of maintaining or increasing levels of public spending while reducing taxation: the numbers do not add up - talk about voodoo economics

Origin:

1980s: popularized as a disparaging term by George Bush (see Bush, George) in his 1980 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination

mojo

n., pl. -jos or -joes.

1. A magic charm or spell.
2. An amulet, often a small flannel bag containing one or more magic items, worn by adherents of hoodoo or voodoo.
3. Personal magnetism; charm.

[Perhaps ultimately from Fula moco'o, medicine man.]

mojo1

Pronunciation: /ˈməʊdʒəʊ/

noun (plural mojos)

chiefly US

• a magic charm, talisman, or spell:someone must have their mojo working over at the record company
• [mass noun] influence, especially magic power: the name has no mojo

Origin:

early 20th century: probably of African origin; compare with Gullah moco 'witchcraft'