smoke-screen

A ship releases a smoke-screen during a naval exercise.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Military or naval tactic: A "smoke-screen" refers to a cloud of smoke created artificially to conceal military or naval operations from enemy observation.
   • Figurative disguise: More broadly, a "smoke-screen" is something said or done to hide the truth or one's real intentions, often in a deceptive manner.

Usage Examples

• Military context:

  • The tanks advanced behind a thick smoke-screen laid down by artillery. (A cloud of smoke used to hide troop movements from the enemy.)

• Figurative context:

  • The politician’s promises were just a smoke-screen to distract voters from the real issues. (Deceptive statements meant to conceal a hidden agenda.)

Advanced Usage

• "to create a smoke-screen": to produce a literal or figurative barrier to obscure visibility or truth.

  • The company created a smoke-screen of misleading financial reports to avoid scrutiny. (They used deception to hide problems.)

• "to see through a smoke-screen": to recognize the deception behind a misleading statement or action.

  • Despite his elaborate excuses, she could see through his smoke-screen. (She understood his true motives.)

Variants and Related Words

• Smokescreen (noun): Alternative spelling, often used interchangeably with "smoke-screen."

  • The spy used a smokescreen to escape. (A literal cloud of smoke for concealment.)

• Smoke (noun): The visible vapor produced by burning material; also used figuratively in phrases like "smoke and mirrors" (deception).

Synonyms

• Camouflage: a method of concealing something by making it blend in with its surroundings.
• Distraction: something that diverts attention from a more important matter.
• Pretense: a false display or claim meant to hide the truth.

Phrasal Verbs

• Smoke out: to force someone or something out of hiding, often by using smoke or figurative pressure.
  • The detectives tried to smoke out the real culprit with clever questioning. (To expose the truth.)

Related Idioms

• Smoke and mirrors: a phrase describing the use of deception or illusion to obscure the truth.

  • The product’s success is based on smoke and mirrors, not real quality. (It is a deceptive marketing tactic.)

• Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: a proverb meaning that rumors or signs often indicate something true is happening.

  • The scandal hasn’t been proven, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (Suspicion is likely justified.)