song and dance

noun

1

: a musical performance that combines singing and dancing

—often used before another noun

choreographed a song and dance routine

a popular song and dance number

2

a

: a long and often familiar statement, explanation, etc. that is usually not true or pertinent

They gave the teacher the usual song and dance about leaving their homework at home.

… proceeded to engage in the same old song and dance about bringing more jobs and economic development to the area …

—Julie DiCaro

b

: fuss, to-do

For some years, those who know Portuguese wines well have made quite a song and dance about the cornucopia of wonderful grape varieties that are native to Portugal …

—Jane Hall

c

: a tedious procedure or scenario : rigmarole

When you travel internationally, there's a whole song and dance of answering questions and declaring items you have to go through before re-entering the U.S.

—Patrick Allan

Synonyms

• bafflegab
• double-talk
• gibberish
• gobbledygook
• gobbledegook
• rigmarole
• rigamarole

Examples of song and dance in a Sentence

instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability

Recent Examples on the Web

Later bursts of song and dance will up the stakes much higher. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2024

And while 2024 marks the first time in the history of the Emmys that two ceremonies have been held in the same calendar year, the Sept. 15 show won’t be the same old song and dance. —Emily Longeretta, Variety, 20 July 2024

Hart’s natural humor is oddly tamped down, or maybe that’s just because his dialogue is so uninteresting, and Black’s voice work is grating and unfunny, made worse by Claptrap’s insistence on bursting into song and dance. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024

The general premise remains pretty much the same — teenager Cady must learn the social hierarchy at a new school and gets wrapped up in the Barbie-pink world of the popular girl, also known as the Plastics — but expect more Gen Z influence and social media against a background of song and dance. —Patricia Karounos, refinery29.com, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1