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
There’s a lot of video on the back wall, a lot of red LED light, a lot of literal smoke and mirrors — it’s got zazz without having psychological or ethical impact.
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Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024
One consequence of the smoke and mirrors is the political stagnation and factional competition that continues to weigh down Iran’s political system.
—Sanam Vakil, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2022
No costumes, no stage set, no smoke and mirrors, no audience of course.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024
Gordon acknowledges that, for some, astrology is all smoke and mirrors, but encourages an open mind.
—Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoke and mirrors 
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024
One consequence of the smoke and mirrors is the political stagnation and factional competition that continues to weigh down Iran’s political system.
—Sanam Vakil, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2022
No costumes, no stage set, no smoke and mirrors, no audience of course.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024
Gordon acknowledges that, for some, astrology is all smoke and mirrors, but encourages an open mind.
—Kristine Johnson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smoke and mirrors
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smoke and mirrors.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Smoke and mirrors.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smoke%20and%20mirrors. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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