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
The explosion aftermath was all smoke and mirrors, and came together with the magic of special effects.
—
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024
And to be clear, there is no net at Bonamassa concerts in an industry where smoke and mirrors are more the rule than the exception.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024
Tesla responded Thursday by posting a video on X bragging about the robot's capabilities in what was seen as an attempt to provide assurances that the demonstration wasn't all smoke and mirrors.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
Even after removal of all the smoke and mirrors, though, reports of terrifying hauntings continue to this day.
—Jess Joho, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoke and mirrors 
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Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024
And to be clear, there is no net at Bonamassa concerts in an industry where smoke and mirrors are more the rule than the exception.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024
Tesla responded Thursday by posting a video on X bragging about the robot's capabilities in what was seen as an attempt to provide assurances that the demonstration wasn't all smoke and mirrors.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
Even after removal of all the smoke and mirrors, though, reports of terrifying hauntings continue to this day.
—Jess Joho, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 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 21 Nov. 2024.
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