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.

Example Sentences

"Our voice, the voice that's always fought for them is getting drowned out by the carnival of charlatans and the circus of snake oil salesmen."

From BBC

When Goop debuted, it sometimes felt like snake oil.

From Salon

A certain snake oil salesman ensured that would be impossible.

From Salon

After Mamdani's win, however, perhaps sensing a greater threat, Adams - who is running for mayor as an independent in November - called him a "snake oil salesman".

From BBC

The movie works only because it's ruthless in its portrayal of the ego delusion that fuels so much of Silicon Valley's C-suites, as the tech industry enters its snake oil phase.

From Salon

Related Words

• nostrum