as in rigamarole
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions
instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of song and dance
This is all a familiar song and dance: Ambitious ideas about reducing health care spending quickly run into political reality, which includes heavy backlash from the health care industry.
—
Maya Goldman, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Chita Rivera onstage originated the role of Aurora/Ingrid who Lopez now struts on screen in vibrant song and dance.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
The return was commemorated in ceremonies of song and dance, accompanied by roasted pigs, by locals.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Every song and dance on Dancing With the Stars season 33
Armstrong's response seemed to partly stem from the immense amount of pressure that Kinney placed on herself, having earned perfect scores for both of her dances during last week's 500th episode.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Maya Goldman, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Chita Rivera onstage originated the role of Aurora/Ingrid who Lopez now struts on screen in vibrant song and dance.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
The return was commemorated in ceremonies of song and dance, accompanied by roasted pigs, by locals.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Every song and dance on Dancing With the Stars season 33
Armstrong's response seemed to partly stem from the immense amount of pressure that Kinney placed on herself, having earned perfect scores for both of her dances during last week's 500th episode.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song and dance
Noun
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Despite the current rhetoric, there seems to be rare agreement on addressing what many believe is a high-stakes issue.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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However, given the increase in nuclear rhetoric coming from Moscow since Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022—coupled with the launch of Russian and Chinese satellites—NATO's concerns about security challenges in space are increasing.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Even with all of the fees and rigmarole that entails.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Editors’ Picks Our Favorite Bathrooms Kermit has been through the graduation rigmarole before.—
Callie Holtermann,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As always, Yellowjackets is full of mind-bending detours, supernatural gobbledygook, and foliage-laden costumes.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
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Apologies to the Lois Lane stans out there, but Adams is mostly on hand in these movies to deliver stern gobbledygook (something about isotopes?) and stare at Henry Cavill’s cheekbones.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Furtado, with a similar penchant for stretching out vowels and embracing gibberish, does the same with Elliott here, at times shrill but still compelling. 73.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
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But at the heart of it is an army of armchair scientists tapping into the unknown, shattering relaxation boundaries and spewing gibberish all in the hopes that someone out there will tingle.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Song and dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song%20and%20dance. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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