dog and pony show

dog and pony show
   American
   a bogus exhibition or insincere conduct calculated to deceive
   Where you may put on a dog and pony act:
    I was here one time for a 'dog and pony show' put on by our government for your State Department. (Hailey, 1990, writing of a place in the Amazon basin where illegal coca crops were grown and, on that occasion, destroyed)
    Well, my darling wife and I are having this sort of terrible argument, but I suppose we can do the dog and pony act. (Proulx, 1993 — they could pretend to be on good terms)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • dog and pony show — UK US noun [C] US INFORMAL MARKETING ► an event that is designed to impress people in order to make them buy something or invest money: »Our average customer is a businessperson who doesn t need the dog and pony show …   Financial and business terms

  • dog and pony show — (USA) A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • dog and pony show — n. Informal a well planned or elaborately orchestrated event, presentation, etc. intended to influence, impress, or gain support, as for a business proposal, a policy, or candidate: also written dog and pony show …   English World dictionary

  • dog-and-pony show — dog and pony ,show noun count AMERICAN an event that is intended to impress people, often used as a way of selling a product …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • dog and pony show — noun : an often elaborate public relations or sales presentation ; also : an elaborate or overblown affair * * * dog and pony show US usually disapproving : a very fancy and elaborate event that is done to sell something, to impress people, etc.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Dog and pony show — For other uses, see Dog and pony show (disambiguation). Dog and pony show is a colloquial term previously used in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to refer to small traveling circuses that toured through small towns and …   Wikipedia

  • dog and pony show — (USA)    A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    A dog and pony show is a marketing event or presentation which has plenty of style but not much… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • dog and pony show — n. a demonstration; a speech, skit, or other presentation that s presented often. □ Wally was there with his dog and pony show about water safety. □ I’ve seen that dog and pony show so many times, it’s like I know all the words …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • dog-and-pony show —  Simple, planned presentation; too often dog and pony shows insult the intelligence of their audience.  See also mushroom job.  ► “However, after a dog and pony show purporting to consider new missions, Clinton and O’Leary have joined two… …   American business jargon

  • dog and pony show — noun a) Originally, a small, traveling circus featuring animals as entertainment. They put on a whole dog and pony show for the investors, but Im not sure they convinced anyone. b) Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate …   Wiktionary

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