English Explanatory Dictionary

mumbo jumbo

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A deity or other supernatural being said to have been worshipped by certain West African peoples; an idol.
  2. Any object of superstition; religious words and/or actions which are seen as superstitious or fraudulent.
  3. Any confusing or meaningless speech; nonsense, gibberish.

Pronunciation

/mʌmbəʊˈdʒʌmbəʊ/ /ˌmʌmboʊˈdʒʌmboʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-mumbo jumbo.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mumbo jumbo.wav

Word forms

mumbo jumbo mumbo jumbos mumbo-jumbo

Etymology

Probably from Mandinka maamajomboo (“mask; masked dancer”); or perhaps from /l/-vocalization in the words mumble and jumble.

Synonyms

absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin applesauce bafflegab balderdash balls baloney banana oil Bandini baragouin batcrap batshit bilgewater blah blather blatherskite bobbins bollocks bosh BS bull bullcrap bulldust bull feathers bullshit bullspeak bunk bunkum bushwah clamjamfrey claptrap cobblers codswallop crap crock crock of shit double Dutch double talk doublespeak dribble drivel eyewash fiddle-faddle flapdoodle flim-flam flizz flummery folderol foolishness footle framis fuckery fuckry fudge galimatias Gallophone garbage garble gash

Derived words

mumbo-jumbery
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