smoke and mirrors

noun

1. (used with a singular or plural verb),  something that distorts or blurs facts, figures, etc., like a magic or conjuring trick; artful deception.

smoke and mirrors

noun

1. irrelevant or misleading information serving to obscure the truth of a situation

Word History and Origins

Origin of smoke and mirrors¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of smoke and mirrors¹

C20: reference to the use of smoke and mirrors in conjuring illusions

Example Sentences

The pay package is replete with smoke and mirrors, its benchmarks painstakingly tweaked to make them much more achievable than they appear on the surface.

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Although that was more than 30 years ago, the smoke and mirrors nonsense usually produced by meetings like these has not changed.

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In the end, much of what I had observed as a high life that might someday include me was simply smoke and mirrors artfully and deceitfully played.

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"That appears to be all smoke and mirrors."

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She testified that its homelessness data system was “smoke and mirrors” and that she had been instructed by her supervisor “to do whatever we can to make the mayor look good.”

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