dog and pony show

noun

Informal.

1. an elaborate sales, advertising, or publicity presentation or campaign.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dog-and-pony show¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Idioms and Phrases

An elaborate presentation to gain approval for a product or policy. For example, The administration loved putting on a dog-and-pony show for every minor change of policy. This term alludes to a traveling variety show. [1950s]

Example Sentences

Rayner called it a “dog and pony show,” noting officials showed them clean linens, box meals and orange jumpsuits, while refusing any contact with detainees or the ability to verify allegations of flooding and infrequent meals.

From Salon

Most of the mainstream media ignored this, having recognized that Bondi is putting on a dog and pony show for the QAnon crowd, which believes in an international conspiracy of Democrats and Hollywood celebrities to molest and kill children, before consuming them in Satanic cannibalism rituals.

From Salon

I remember Bob Iger said to me — he asked me to go to some meeting at ABC; this dog and pony show — and he says, “George, how do we sell Hondas to Latinos?”

From Los Angeles Times

Bazawule is not particularly interested in the “dog and pony show” of awards season.

From Seattle Times

The power of money in politics has wholly eclipsed the power of the electorate, even without the help of the tragi-comic dog and pony show we call the Electoral College.

From Salon