smoke and mirrors

plural noun

: something intended to disguise or draw attention away from an often embarrassing or unpleasant issue

—usually hyphenated when used before another noun

Examples of smoke and mirrors in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an email exchange with Futurism, Klawfman’s anonymous human handlers, using the screen name Quiet Operator, assured us there’s no smoke and mirrors, and that the AI agent even came up with the idea on its own. —Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026

Academics have described the panic as a response to the growing instability of the middle class, a fear their livelihoods were held up by smoke and mirrors. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026

There was no smoke and mirrors there. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

The smoke and mirrors games that are part and parcel of F1 testing have been in full swing through this week’s running in Bahrain – even more so than in previous seasons, given the new cars being tested. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for smoke and mirrors

• hearers
• shearers

Kids Definition

smoke and mirrors

noun

: something intended to disguise or draw attention away especially from an unpleasant issue