Meaning of smoke and mirrors | Babel Free

Definitions

A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description.

figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Budget process⟳? It's more like⟳ a magic show⟳. It's wink and blink and smoke⟳ and mirrors and pulling rabbits out of hats, but almost all that ever comes up are designs to hide⟳ increases for the special interests.”

“On revenue raising issues, Mr Harris reveals what a master of smoke⟳ and mirrors Bob Carr really is.”

“It’s smoke⟳ and mirrors. It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get⟳ close⟳ to passing reform⟳, the insurance companies produce⟳ these phony studies as a prescription and say⟳, "Take⟳ one of these, and call⟳ us in a decade."”

“As for the IRP, Secretary of State Grant Shapps continues to peddle snake oil, smoke⟳ and mirrors. His reaction to near-universal IRP condemnation from politicians, local and national media, and all but a few rail specialists was to dismiss the lot of us (in the condescending and patronising tone we have⟳ now come⟳ to expect⟳) as "critics and naysayers".”

“Reflecting on the memories shared with their family, adult children may wonder⟳: "Was it all smoke⟳ and mirrors? Were they ever really happy?", Hughes says.”

CEFR level