- smoke and mirrors
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(used with a sing. or pl. v.) something that distorts or blurs facts, figures, etc., like a magic or conjuring trick; artful deception.[1980-85]
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Universalium. 2010.
smoke and mirrors
Look at other dictionaries:
Smoke 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… … Wikipedia
smoke 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… … Financial and business terms
smoke-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… … New idioms dictionary
smoke and mirrors — An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors … The small dictionary of idiomes
smoke and mirrors — n. elaborate deception or pretense: so called after the use of smoke, mirrors, etc. by professional magicians to create an illusion … English World dictionary
smoke and mirrors — ► smoke and mirrors N. Amer. the use of misleading or irrelevant information to obscure or embellish the truth. Main Entry: ↑smoke … English terms dictionary
smoke and mirrors — noun uncount something that is intended to prevent people from clearly seeing or understanding something … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
smoke 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)… … Useful english dictionary
smoke 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… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
smoke 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 … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
smoke and mirrors — noun A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description. Budget process? Its more like a magic show. Its wink and blink and smoke and mirrors and pulling rabbits out of hats, but almost all that ever comes up are designs to hide… … Wiktionary
