smoke-filled room

[smohk-fild, -fild]

noun

1. a place, as a hotel room, for conducting secret negotiations, effecting compromises, devising strategy, etc.

smoke-filled room

1. A popular expression used to describe a place where the political wheeling and dealing of machine bosses (see machine politics) is conducted. The image originated during the Republican presidential nominating convention of 1920, in which Warren G. Harding emerged as a dark horse candidate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of smoke-filled room¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Related Words

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