window dressing

noun

1. the art, act, or technique of trimming the display windows of a store.

2. misrepresentation of something, so as to give a favorable impression.

   The company's list of assets included a great deal of window dressing.

window-dressing

noun

1. the ornamentation of shop windows, designed to attract customers

2. the pleasant, showy, or false aspect of an idea, policy, etc, which is stressed to conceal the real or unpleasant nature; façade

Word History and Origins

Origin of window-dressing¹

First recorded in 1780–90