song and dance

noun

1

: a musical performance that combines singing and dancing

—often used before another noun

choreographed a song and dance routine

a popular song and dance number

2

a

: a long and often familiar statement, explanation, etc. that is usually not true or pertinent

They gave the teacher the usual song and dance about leaving their homework at home.

… proceeded to engage in the same old song and dance about bringing more jobs and economic development to the area …

—Julie DiCaro

b

: fuss, to-do

For some years, those who know Portuguese wines well have made quite a song and dance about the cornucopia of wonderful grape varieties that are native to Portugal …

—Jane Hall

c

: a tedious procedure or scenario : rigmarole

When you travel internationally, there's a whole song and dance of answering questions and declaring items you have to go through before re-entering the U.S.

—Patrick Allan

Synonyms

• rigamarole
• rhetoric
• gobbledegook
• rigmarole
• gobbledygook
• gibberish

Examples of song and dance in a Sentence

instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability

Recent Examples on the Web

Molina’s stories are portrayed in colorful song and dance. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025

Marc, never again will there be our little outbursts of song and dance. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 June 2025

Kids will take a trip in song and dance to Miss Jamie’s Farm at 10:30 a.m. on July 19. —Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025

Hodgson, after hearing a podcast episode about Operation Mincemeat, was the first to imagine the twisted heist in song and dance. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 29 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for song and dance

• circumstance
• exceedance
• happenstance
• refinance
• advance
• askance
• enhance
• expanse
• finance
• freelance
• mischance
• perchance