snake oil

noun

1. any of various liquid concoctions of questionable medical value sold as an all-purpose curative, especially by traveling hucksters.

2. Slang.,  deceptive talk or actions; hooey; bunkum.

   The governor promised to lower taxes, but it was the same old snake oil.

Other Word Forms

• snake-oil adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snake oil¹

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

see under banana oil.

Related Words

• nostrum