smoke screen

Thân thiện

The military deploys a smoke screen to conceal their advance.

Definition

Noun: 1. An action or statement intended to conceal, confuse, or obscure the truth: A deceptive tactic used to distract attention from a real issue or problem. 2. (Military) A cloud of smoke released to hide military movements from the enemy: A literal screen of smoke used as a tactical concealment.

Usage Examples

• The politician's emotional speech was merely a smoke screen to avoid answering the difficult questions.
• The company's announcement of a minor rebranding was a smoke screen for its major financial troubles.
• The troops advanced under cover of a smoke screen.

Advanced Usage

• "to be/have/act as a smoke screen for something": To serve the purpose of hiding something else.
  • The charity event was a smoke screen for their illegal fundraising activities.
• "behind a smoke screen of": Hidden by a particular deceptive method.
  • He operated behind a smoke screen of respectability.

Variants and Related Words

• Smokescreen (noun): An alternative, often single-word, spelling of "smoke screen".
• Smoke (verb/noun): The act of producing smoke or the visible vapor itself. (Note: This is the root word, but its primary meanings are distinct from the compound "smoke screen").

Synonyms

• Blind: Something used to deceive or mislead.
• Cover: Something that conceals or disguises.
• Facade: A deceptive outward appearance.
• Pretext: A false reason used to justify an action.
• Camouflage: Disguise or concealment.

Related Idioms & Phrases

• "To throw up a smoke screen": To create a diversion or deception.
  • When questioned about the budget, the manager threw up a smoke screen by discussing future plans.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an action intended to conceal or confuse or obscure
   • requesting new powers of surveillance is just a smokescreen to hide their failures
2. (military) screen consisting of a cloud of smoke that obscures movements

Từ đồng nghĩa

• smokescreen