smoke and mirrors
1Smoke and mirrors — is a metaphor for a deceptive, fraudulent or insubstantial explanation or description. The source of the name is based on magicians illusions, where magicians make objects appear or disappear by extending or retracting mirrors amid a confusing… …
2smoke and mirrors — UK US noun [plural] ► an explanation or description that is not true or not complete and is used to hide the truth about a situation: »Even allowing for the smoke and mirrors, offers such as half price cornflakes and 40% off washing powder look… …
3smoke-and-mirrors — something which is intended to confuse or deceive people, especially by making them believe that a situation is better than it really is. City Hall has saved taxpayers little with its smoke and mirrors trick of using money set aside for building… …
4smoke and mirrors — An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors …
5smoke and mirrors — n. elaborate deception or pretense: so called after the use of smoke, mirrors, etc. by professional magicians to create an illusion …
6smoke and mirrors — ► smoke and mirrors N. Amer. the use of misleading or irrelevant information to obscure or embellish the truth. Main Entry: ↑smoke …
7smoke and mirrors — noun uncount something that is intended to prevent people from clearly seeing or understanding something …
8smoke and mirrors — noun plural Etymology: from the use of smoke and mirrors in conjuring tricks : an illusion created (as by public statements) to disguise or draw attention from something potentially embarrassing or unpleasant (as the unworkability of a proposal)… …
9smoke and mirrors — An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** An attempt to conceal or distort the truth (like a magician) in order to confuse people is called smoke and mirrors. The outgoing president used… …
10smoke and mirrors — n. a strategy of deception and cover up. □ Her entire report was nothing but smoke and mirrors. Who could believe any of it? □ There is no plan. It’s all just smoke and mirrors …
