mumbo jumbo

n., pl., -bos, or -bos.

1. Unintelligible or incomprehensible language; gibberish.
2. Language or ritualistic activity intended to confuse.
3. A complicated or obscure ritual.
4. An object believed to have supernatural powers; a fetish.

[Perhaps of Mandingo origin .]

(MUM-bo JUM-bo)

noun
1. Meaningless, unintelligible, complicated, or confusing language.
2. Complicated language or jargon used in order to confuse.
3. An object believed to possess supernatural powers.

Etymology
Or uncertain origin, probably from Mandingo, a group of Mande languages in western Africa.

Usage
"Its (Greenland's) government, in office for only 37 days, fell apart because of its civil service chief's penchant for what some politicians called witch-doctoring, some mumbo jumbo and others `plain exorcism'." — Andrew Osborn; 'Cleansed' Greenland Cabinet Falls; The Guardian (London, UK); Jan 11, 2003.

"The master of ceremonies recites some ritual words, and then Taylor launches into some mumbo-jumbo: 'Consider the great luminary of nature, which, rising in the east ...'" — Peter Carlson; Fezzes, Sphinxes and Secret Handshakes; The Washington Post; Nov 25, 2001.

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noun

1. Unintelligible or nonsensical talk or language: abracadabra, double talk, gibberish, gobbledygook, jabberwocky. See clear/unclear, words.
2. Esoteric, formulaic, and often incomprehensible speech relating to the occult: abracadabra, gibberish, hocus-pocus. See clear/unclear, supernatural, words.

A term used to denote an object of senseless veneration, or a meaningless ceremony designed to overpower impressionable people. It has often been used by individuals as a pejorative label to express their strong personal belief about the occult.

Mumbo-Jumbo dates back to the early eighteenth century, when it was reported as an image used by the Mundingo tribe in Gambia, Africa, to keep women in subjection. If the men had a dispute with the women, the "Mumbo-Jumbo" image was brought to adjudicate. This image was eight or nine feet high, made from the bark of trees, with straw on the head, and dressed in a long frock coat. A man of the tribe would be hidden under the coat, and would always give a judgment in favor of the men. The women would usually run away when he was brought to them, although he had power to make them come forward or sing and dance for his pleasure.

A secret society amongst the men maintained the tradition of the Mumbo-Jumbo, and its members were sworn to secrecy. No boy under sixteen was allowed to join.

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Dansk (Danish)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    hokuspokus, sludder

Français (French)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    charabia, cérémonial

Deutsch (German)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    Brimborium, Theater, Kauderwelsch, Idol, Götze

Ελληνική (Greek)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    εντυπωσιακή αλλά κενή τελετουργία, ασυναρτησίες

Italiano (Italian)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    irrealistico, feticcio africano

Português (Portuguese)
n. - mambo (m)

idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    mambo jambo

Русский (Russian)
идол некоторых африканских племен

idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    идол некоторых африканских племен, бессмысленное бормотание, суеверие

Español (Spanish)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    fetiche, conjuro, farsa, comedia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - tomma ceremonier

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
怪诞的偶像, 令人畏惧的东西, 迷惑人的做法, 莫名其妙的话

idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    迷信的崇拜物, 迷惑人的做法, 愚蠢的咒语, 晦涩难懂的话

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
怪誕的偶像, 令人畏懼的東西, 迷惑人的做法, 莫名其妙的話

idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    迷信的崇拜物, 迷惑人的做法, 愚蠢的咒語, 晦澀難懂的話

한국어 (Korean)
idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    아프리카 서부 흑인 부락의 수호신, 우상, 무의미한 말

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - マンボー, 迷信的呪文, 無意味なまじない

idioms:

• mumbo jumbo    ばかげた宗教的儀式, おまじないわけのわからない言葉

עברית (Hebrew)
mumbo jumbo - ‮גיבוב מילים (חסר פשר), פולחן אווילי‬

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