Smoke and mirrors

Smoke and mirrors

Smoke and mirrors is a metaphor for a deceptive, fraudulent or insubstantial explanation or description. The source of the name is based on magicians' illusions, where magicians make objects appear or disappear by extending or retracting mirrors amid a confusing burst of smoke. The expression may have a connotation of virtuosity or cleverness in carrying out such a deception.

In the field of computer programming, it is used to describe a program or functionality that doesn't yet exist, but appears as though it does ("cf." vaporware). This is often done to demonstrate what a resulting project will function/look like after the code is complete — at a trade show, for example.

More generally, "smoke and mirrors" may refer to any sort of presentation by which the audience is intended to be deceived, such as an attempt to fool a prospective client into thinking that one has capabilities necessary to deliver a product in question.

Columnist Jimmy Breslin is credited with popularizing the phrase.Fact|date=August 2007

ee also

* Method stub

External links

* [http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/s/smokeandmirrors.html 'Smoke and mirrors' at the Jargon File]
* [http://www.bartleby.com/73/1415.html 'Smoke and mirrors' at Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations]


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  • smoke and mirrors — noun plural Etymology: from the use of smoke and mirrors in conjuring tricks : an illusion created (as by public statements) to disguise or draw attention from something potentially embarrassing or unpleasant (as the unworkability of a proposal)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • smoke and mirrors —    An attempt to conceal something is smoke and mirrors.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    An attempt to conceal or distort the truth (like a magician) in order to confuse people is called smoke and mirrors.     The outgoing president used… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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