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
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
In 1989, singer/dancer/actor Gregory Hines co-presented with Sammy Davis Jr., the top song and dance man of a previous generation.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 25 Feb. 2025
Once the Israelites were safe, Miriam, Moses' sister, led a group of women in gleeful song and dance.
—Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
The warmth between the three leads is believable and although the tendency to have Lane, Bomer and Graham break into choreographed song and dance routines for episodic climaxes quickly feels lazy, a cold open homage to Chicago produced my biggest laugh of the 10-episode season.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025
In 1989, singer/dancer/actor Gregory Hines co-presented with Sammy Davis Jr., the top song and dance man of a previous generation.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 25 Feb. 2025
Once the Israelites were safe, Miriam, Moses' sister, led a group of women in gleeful song and dance.
—Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
The warmth between the three leads is believable and although the tendency to have Lane, Bomer and Graham break into choreographed song and dance routines for episodic climaxes quickly feels lazy, a cold open homage to Chicago produced my biggest laugh of the 10-episode season.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 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
-
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 27 May. 2025.
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