witches' brew

Bubbling magical mixture

A witches' brew is a concoction of strange or sinister ingredients, from the cauldron imagery of folklore witchcraft.

The term usually appears figuratively for any dangerous or unpredictable mixture: a witches' brew of toxic chemicals, a witches' brew of political extremism and economic despair.

Also spelled witch's brew.

spellcastingPerforming magical incantations
elixirMythical healing draught
hagFrightening elderly witch
covenAssembly of witches
dark artsMalevolent supernatural practices

double double toil and trouble · cauldron · sorcery · tincture · eye of newt · hodgepodge · mishmash · Samhain · philter · grimoires · hexing · enchantment · necromancy · bubbling · magic potion · draught · alchemy · poison apple

Opposites

purity/wholesomeness

witches' brewholy water

Sacramental liquid for blessings

elixir of life · healing potion · nectar · ambrosia · mother's milk

composition clarity

witches' brewpure water

Uncontaminated H₂O

distilled water · single malt · simple syrup · pharmaceutical compound · saline solution

natural vs. corrupted

witches' brewspring water

Groundwater surfacing naturally

natural spring · virgin olive oil · raw honey · clean water

Family

witch, witches, witchy, witchcraft, witchery, bewitched, bewitch, brew, brews

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G