smoke screen

American  

noun

1. a mass of dense smoke produced to conceal an area, vessel, or plane from the enemy.

2. something intended to disguise, conceal, or deceive; camouflage.

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smoke screen British  

noun

1. military a cloud of smoke produced by artificial means to obscure movements or positions

2. something said or done in order to hide the truth

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Etymology

Origin of smoke screen

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

An adviser to Aksyonov, Oleg Kryuchkov, claimed that “a smoke screen was put up by special services.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 12, 2023

Or maybe this all proves to be a smoke screen and the Dodgers ultimately go with Urías in Game 1, after all, electing to treat their apparent ace like one.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2022

Prosecuting barrister Gregory Gordon said in his closing submission that Mr Hankinson was offering advice on how to hunt illegally "behind a smoke screen of trail hunting".

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2021

It would take a modern woman to see through the thick smoke screen of self-deprecation that was Lady Bird’s persona.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2021

Either Kubat was engaging in wishful thinking or the statement was just a public relations smoke screen to give the match more credibility.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• red herring