snake oil

noun

any of various liquid concoctions of questionable medical value sold as an all-purpose curative, especially by traveling hucksters.

Slang. deceptive talk or actions; hooey; bunkum: The governor promised to lower taxes, but it was the same old snake oil.

Origin:
1925–30, Americanism

Related forms

snake-oil, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

snake oil

see under banana oil.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Relevant Questions

00:10

Snake oil is always a great word to know.

So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:

an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

Example sentences

The culprit is public ignorance of science which uncritically allows in the

purveyors of snake oil and scare stories.

The pitches are reminiscent of snake oil sales-cheap cures for whatever ails

you.

People in general are intelligent enough to realize when snake oil is heading

their way.

The game was started by a pitcher wearing fake teeth in his mouth and finished

by a reliever wearing snake oil on his arm.

Idioms & Phrases

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