smoke and mirrors
plural noun
: something intended to disguise or draw attention away from an often embarrassing or unpleasant issue
—usually hyphenated when used attributively
Examples of smoke and mirrors in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But more often than not, those assumptions are just smoke and mirrors.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
To Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Tennessee’s arguments relying on Dobbs are just smoke and mirrors.
—Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
The great and powerful Oz—all smoke and mirrors, always craving more power.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Hoping the new Offensive Coordinator is more than just smoke and mirrors and has a system that takes advantage of mismatches putting these players in position to succeed.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoke and mirrors 
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
To Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Tennessee’s arguments relying on Dobbs are just smoke and mirrors.
—Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
The great and powerful Oz—all smoke and mirrors, always craving more power.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Hoping the new Offensive Coordinator is more than just smoke and mirrors and has a system that takes advantage of mismatches putting these players in position to succeed.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoke and mirrors
Dictionary Entries Near smoke and mirrors
Cite this Entry
“Smoke and mirrors.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smoke%20and%20mirrors. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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