hoodoo
/'hu:du:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Something believed to bring bad luck: A person, thing, or event considered to cause misfortune.
- A charm or object superstitiously believed to embody magical powers: Often one used in folk magic or spiritual practices.
- A practitioner of folk magic or traditional spiritual beliefs, sometimes associated with, but distinct from, formal Voodoo.
- (Geology) A tall, thin spire of rock formed by erosion, typically found in arid basins and badlands.
Verb:
- To bring bad luck or misfortune: To cause something to be unlucky or to fail.
Examples
Noun:
- That old house is a hoodoo; every business that opens there fails.
- He carried a small bag of herbs as a hoodoo for protection.
- The local hoodoo was known for her knowledge of roots and remedies.
- We hiked through the desert to see the famous hoodoo formations.
Verb:
- It seems like something is hoodooing this project; we keep facing unexpected delays.
Advanced Usage
- "to put a hoodoo on someone/something": To cast bad luck or a curse.
- The superstitious captain believed a rival had put a hoodoo on his ship.
Variants and Related Words
- Hoodooism (n): The practices or beliefs associated with hoodoo.
- Her research focused on the history of hoodooism in the region.
Synonyms
- Noun (for bad luck): Jinx, curse, hex.
- Noun (for practitioner): Rootworker, conjurer.
- Verb: Jinx, curse, bedevil.
Related Phrases
- Hoodoo doctor: A folk healer or spiritual practitioner who uses hoodoo.
- People would travel for miles to see the old hoodoo doctor.
Related Idioms
- "Hoodoo you love?": A playful, punning phrase (on "Who do you love?"), sometimes used in musical or cultural contexts, referencing the word's folkloric roots.
Noun
- something believed to bring bad luck
- a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers
- a practitioner of voodoo
- (geology) a column of weathered and unusually shaped rock
- a tall sandstone hoodoo
Verb
- bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune