as in rigamarole
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions
instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability
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Recent Examples of song and dance
There’s this great song and dance scene, and there’s that beautiful set that’s these uplit buildings that are super deco.
—
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2025
And most formulas are the same song and dance — but not Merit Beauty’s new Signature Sheer Lip Liner, which I was sent to try.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But at those prices, grabbing a beer and giving into the song and dance that comes afterward is far easier to do.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The association wanted to create a program that would be entertaining to a local audience by inviting performers from outside the Village to demonstrate both traditional and contemporary song and dance numbers.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2025
And most formulas are the same song and dance — but not Merit Beauty’s new Signature Sheer Lip Liner, which I was sent to try.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But at those prices, grabbing a beer and giving into the song and dance that comes afterward is far easier to do.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The association wanted to create a program that would be entertaining to a local audience by inviting performers from outside the Village to demonstrate both traditional and contemporary song and dance numbers.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song and dance
Noun
-
In her public rhetoric, mostly on social media and right-wing media appearances, Lake has veered between promising to restore the networks to their historic mission and pledging to demolish them.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
22 May 2025
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While some may view these new statements as a step toward accountability, others remain skeptical, citing the depth and repeated nature of his past rhetoric.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The bust was followed by months of prolonged legal rigmarole.—
John Semley,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
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Even with all of the fees and rigmarole that entails.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As always, Yellowjackets is full of mind-bending detours, supernatural gobbledygook, and foliage-laden costumes.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
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Apologies to the Lois Lane stans out there, but Adams is mostly on hand in these movies to deliver stern gobbledygook (something about isotopes?) and stare at Henry Cavill’s cheekbones.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In 2023, Voyager 1 started sending gibberish from deep space, but that issue was resolved last year.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
20 May 2025
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Next to Margaret, one of the two angels holds a book of song, once thought to be a hymn by the English composer Walter Frye but now identified as musical gibberish.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Song and dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song%20and%20dance. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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