hoodoo
hoodoo — noun
- hoodoosingular
- hoodoosplural
1. a system of folk magic developed within African American communities in the sout
a system of folk magic developed within African American communities in the southern United States and the Caribbean, using herbs, charms, and rituals to heal, protect, or influence events
Rania's grandmother taught her the old hoodoo traditions using roots and herbs for healing.
hoodoo traditions — collocation for the belief system
The museum exhibit displayed hoodoo charms made from cloth, feathers, and small bones.
hoodoo charms — physical objects used in the practice
Hassan found a 1950s study tracing hoodoo's roots to the Yoruba and Kongo traditions of West Africa.
Some old hoodoo recipes used common garden plants for protection and good fortune.
用法筆記
Distinct from the religion of Haitian Vodou, though the two share historical roots. Often used in historical or anthropological contexts.
常見錯誤
2. a lasting spell of bad luck that seems to affect a person, place, or thing, or a
a lasting spell of bad luck that seems to affect a person, place, or thing, or a person or object believed to cause such misfortune
The team believed a hoodoo was keeping them from winning the championship.
have / believe in a hoodoo — countable use for a curse-like influence
Pim thought the old house had a hoodoo after three owners ran into financial trouble.
After the accident, Vivek's crops died and his tools kept breaking — he blamed a hoodoo.
Local fishermen called the broken boat a hoodoo and refused to sail on it.
用法筆記
Common in informal American speech. Frequently used with 'have' ('have a hoodoo on something') or 'be under' ('be under a hoodoo'). The countable form ('a hoodoo') refers to a specific source of bad luck, while the uncountable form ('hoodoo') refers to bad luck in general.
常見錯誤
3. a mysterious ability to attract, fascinate, or control other people, as if by su
a mysterious ability to attract, fascinate, or control other people, as if by supernatural means
The old jazz singer still had a hoodoo over audiences wherever she performed.
have a hoodoo over [someone] — typical pattern for influence
Manuela's calm voice seemed to have a hoodoo that soothed even the angriest customers.
The hoodoo of the old storyteller's voice pulled Asher forward in his chair, his bowl of soup cooling untouched.
The charismatic leader's hoodoo over his followers worried the town authorities.
文法句型
have a hoodoo over [someone]
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'over' to indicate the person or group under the influence. The power is usually seen as puzzling or irresistible rather than deliberately harmful. Less common than sense 2.
4. a tall, thin column of rock created by wind and water erosion over many centurie
a tall, thin column of rock created by wind and water erosion over many centuries, often standing alone with a strange or striking shape
The hikers stopped to photograph a hoodoo shaped like a giant mushroom.
The park ranger explained that each hoodoo was formed by thousands of years of erosion.
formed by erosion — standard geological explanation
Sunrise cast long shadows from the hoodoos across the desert floor.
A sudden rainstorm sent small rocks tumbling from the top of the hoodoo.
- rock pillar
a general term without the connotation of unusual shape
- rock spire
more pointed and narrow than a typical hoodoo
- monolith
usually larger and thicker than a hoodoo
用法筆記
A technical term in geology, commonly encountered in descriptions of Western US national parks such as Bryce Canyon or Goblin Valley. This sense has no connection to the magical meanings of senses 1–3.