snow job
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A long and elaborate misrepresentation: A "snow job" is a deceptive, persuasive speech or presentation that is intentionally long, detailed, and confusing, designed to overwhelm or mislead someone by burying the truth under a mass of flattery, technical jargon, or irrelevant information.
Usage
- The term is typically used in informal contexts to describe an attempt to deceive or persuade through overwhelming, insincere, or misleading communication.
- It often implies the speaker is using charm, flattery, or complexity to obscure facts or avoid giving a straight answer.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used in various professional and personal contexts where persuasion or deception is involved, such as sales, politics, public relations, or even personal relationships.
- "to give someone a snow job": This is the most common verb construction.
- He tried to give the investors a snow job with flashy charts, but they asked for the hard data.
Variants and Related Words
- Snow (verb, informal): To deceive, overwhelm, or impress with elaborate but often insincere talk. (e.g., )
- Snowed (adjective, informal): To be deceived or overwhelmed by such talk. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Deception: The act of deceiving someone.
- Con: A trick or swindle.
- Fast talk: Persuasive but deceptive speech.
- Blarney: Flattering or wheedling talk.
- Smokescreen: Something intended to conceal or confuse.
Antonyms
- Straight talk: Honest, direct communication.
- Frankness: The quality of being open and honest.
- Candor: The quality of being open and truthful.
Related Idioms
- To pull the wool over someone's eyes: To deceive someone.
- To baffle with science/BS: To confuse someone with technical or impressive-sounding but meaningless talk (BS is an abbreviation for a vulgar term).
Noun
- a long and elaborate misrepresentation