- Meaning
- This idiom describes deceiving, exaggerating, or misleading someone with empty talk or flattery, as if creating a smokescreen to obscure the truth. It conveys insincerity or manipulation, often used in personal, professional, or political contexts to critique dishonest communication. The phrase carries a tone of skepticism, warning, or disdain, reflecting cultural values of honesty and the human tendency to deceive. Its imagery of smoke evokes a fleeting, obscuring cloud, resonating in scenarios like sales pitches or promises. The idiom exposes deceit, making it a sharp metaphor for empty rhetoric.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in early 20th-century America, tied to stage magicians using smoke for illusions, as noted in theater journals. Its earliest recorded metaphorical use appears in *The Chicago Tribune* (1940s), describing political deceit. The idiom gained traction in the 1950s, amplified by journalism and noir films, notably in *The Big Sleep* (1946). Its spread was boosted by media, with *The New York Times* using it for corporate spin. Its adoption, primarily in the U.S., stems from its vivid imagery and relevance to deception, with use in the U.K. and Australia.
- Variants
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- Blow smoke
- Blowing smoke
- Blow smoke up your nose
- Examples
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- He’s just blowing smoke, promising raises he can’t deliver.
- Blowing smoke, she exaggerated her role in the project.
- Don’t blow smoke up my nose with that fake flattery.
- Blow smoke, they did, hyping the product’s features.
- She’s blowing smoke, claiming she finished the report.
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