snake oil
Americannoun
-
any of various liquid concoctions of questionable medical value sold as an all-purpose curative, especially by traveling hucksters.
-
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
Etymology
Origin of snake oil
An Americanism dating back to 1925–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Referring to chlorine dioxide, she said: “We have had examples of this probably throughout the history of medicine. There’s a word for this, it’s called snake oil.”
From Salon
But during earlier remarks, Villaraigosa had said he had no interest in selling “snake oil” solutions to voters on complex matters like healthcare.
From Los Angeles Times
When Goop debuted, it sometimes felt like snake oil.
From Salon
A certain snake oil salesman ensured that would be impossible.
From Salon
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
