as in rhetoric
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of song and dance
In Barnes’ case, the boots aren’t just for weekend wear or a short drag routine but need to endure eight shows a week of energetic song and dance performances.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Before long, smitten cast members, including Sarah Sherman and a cameraman wearing an I (Heart) Harry shirt who kept focusing on Styles, proved too much for Gosling, who called off a big song and dance number featuring most of the cast in silver space attire.
—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Not his first blockbuster deal This isn’t Gore’s first time doing the song and dance of being traded.
—
Sportsday Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Jan. 2026
Just stop with this whole song and dance between Kuminga and Steve Kerr.
—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Before long, smitten cast members, including Sarah Sherman and a cameraman wearing an I (Heart) Harry shirt who kept focusing on Styles, proved too much for Gosling, who called off a big song and dance number featuring most of the cast in silver space attire.
—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Not his first blockbuster deal This isn’t Gore’s first time doing the song and dance of being traded.
—
Sportsday Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Jan. 2026
Just stop with this whole song and dance between Kuminga and Steve Kerr.
—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song and dance
Noun
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For too long Western leaders have been deterred by Putin’s escalation rhetoric.
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Concha argued that her positions and rhetoric reflect a broader shift in the Democratic Party toward socialism and extremism.
Noun
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And the rigmarole of international travel is a very good reason.
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Alternatives were mooted, such as filming in England, but flying all the crew from Poland, and their associated visa requirements, would have added to the rigmarole.
Noun
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This dumbed-down Goebbels gobbledygook revived talking points that Habermas had tried to quash during the Historikerstreit.
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But at least some of it was gobbledygook.
Noun
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Obviously being the second pick in the draft there’s a ton of expectation and hype to go along with that.
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Congress and the president should accept Altman’s offer, write careful rules around sovereign wealth fund governance, and create an institution that can outlast the current AI hype cycle.
Noun
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Once talkies came into play, though, the Minions — who can only communicate with each other in nonsensical gibberish — quickly find themselves out of work.
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With its collaborations now stretching to Japan, via Nintendo, a globalization defines Illumination — fitting given the international word salad gibberish of the Minions.
Cite this Entry
“Song and dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song%20and%20dance. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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