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

The actors do take some interesting risks – talking while eating, breaking into song and dance. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025

At first, Elsbeth watches Retta and her co-horts belt out the lyrics and move around her, before it’s revealed just how the song and dance routine is taking place. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 6 May 2025

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

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