smoke screen
Americannoun
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a mass of dense smoke produced to conceal an area, vessel, or plane from the enemy.
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something intended to disguise, conceal, or deceive; camouflage.
noun
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military a cloud of smoke produced by artificial means to obscure movements or positions
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something said or done in order to hide the truth
Etymology
Origin of smoke screen
First recorded in 1910–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wheatley's husband Darren Wheatley called Lloyd "a coward" who had "hidden behind your carefully orchestrated smoke screen".
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
An adviser to Aksyonov, Oleg Kryuchkov, claimed that “a smoke screen was put up by special services.”
From Washington Times ● Aug. 12, 2023
He even aided the team’s public smoke screen regarding his status, telling reporters he was holding out hope of an October return despite already knowing his season was over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
The film’s modest facade proves a smoke screen for a rich and eventful ride; one plot development in particular hits with such surprise that it catches the audience far more unawares than the characters.
From New York Times ● Oct. 6, 2022
“I could maybe rig some kind of camouflage,” Leo said, “like a smoke screen to hide us in the clouds.”
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
