woo-woo
adjective & noun

- based on false beliefs or imaginary things, rather than reason or scientific knowledge

- dubiously or outlandishly mystical, supernatural, or unscientific

- unconventional beliefs regarded as having little or no scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine

Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Languages

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PHRASE ORIGIN

"Woo-woo" likely emerged in the 1970s, with the earliest documented use dating back to 1971. There are several theories about its exact origin:

Ghost Sounds: one theory suggests that "woo-woo" imitates the moaning sounds traditionally associated with ghosts.

Film Music: another explanation indicates that "woo-woo" mimics the eerie background music in science fiction and horror films.

Reaction to Magic: the term might also derive from the exclamation "woooooo!" used in response to dimmed lights or magic tricks.

Today, "woo-woo" is used as a pejorative term for pseudoscientific explanations or unconventional beliefs considered to lack scientific foundation.

It's important to note that the use of "woo-woo" can be controversial. Some argue that it trivializes or disrespects authentic spiritual practices, particularly those from non-Western cultures. The term's usage should therefore be approached with sensitivity and awareness of cultural differences.

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HOW WOO-WOO ARE YOU?

Although there is no scientific evidence for the validity or truth of such things as: astrology, crystal healing, ghosts, homeopathy, reincarnation, Reiki, Tarot readings, telepathy, and UFOs, voodoo... many people in the West believe in such systems or phenomena.

While "woo-woo" rarely leads scientific breakthroughs, some of our greatest discoveries emerged from what contemporaries considered outlandish speculation—with Galileo’s discoveries being the most famous. Nowadays, quantum physics, once derided as mystical nonsense, has become foundational to our understanding of the material universe.

The challenge may lie, not in eliminating superstitious thinking—an impossible and perhaps undesirable goal—but in finding ways for rational and mystical worldviews to coexist productively.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

airy-fairy, alt-science, artsy-fartsy, away with the fairies, beyond the pale, blue moon stuff, cockamamie, cockeyed, crackpot, crystal-gazing, far-fetched, fatuous, flaky, hocus-pocus, hogwash, hokey, hokum, irrational, kooky, magical thinking, mumbo-jumbo, new age, nutty, off-the-wall, out-there, over the top, paranormal, pseudoscientific, quackery, screwy, snake oil, spiritualist, supernatural, touchy-feely, unscientific, voodoo, wacky, way-out, weird science, woo, WOO-WOO, zany

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“In our age of scientific precision and certainty, it may be that WOO-WOO offers an experience of mystery and magic that cold rationality just can’t satisfy.”

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THANKS to Gloria for suggesting today’s OWAD.

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