blowing smoke
Talking empty talk
Blowing smoke means talking deceptively or without substance—saying things that sound impressive but lack truth or real meaning.
The image is of smoke obscuring vision, creating confusion rather than clarity.
Don't trust him—he's just blowing smoke.
Often appears as blowing smoke up someone's ass, a vulgar intensification suggesting shameless flattery or lies.
Argument against
- shamFraudulent imitation
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
charlatan · impostor · bluff · hustle · pretense · fabrication · falsehood · duplicity
Excessive self-praise
- braggingExcessive self-praise
- pufferyOverblown self-promotion
- hot airMeaningless boastful talk
- tall taleWildly exaggerated story
bravado · bluster · grandstanding · overstatement · hyperbole · embellishment · showboating · big talk
Change in trajectory
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
sidestepping · stalling · runaround · equivocation · prevarication · doublespeak · obfuscation · vagueness
con
Argument against
fraud · charlatan · impostor · bluff · hustle · pretense · fabrication · falsehood · duplicity · trickery
boasting
Excessive self-praise
tall tale · bravado · bluster · grandstanding · overstatement · hyperbole · embellishment · showboating · big talk · empty words
deflection
Change in trajectory
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
dodging · sidestepping · stalling · runaround · equivocation · prevarication · doublespeak · obfuscation · vagueness · circumlocution
blowing smoketelling the truth
being honest · telling it like it is · leveling · coming clean
blowing smokegetting down to brass tacks
Reaching essential specifics
cutting to the chase · talking turkey · walking the walk · making good · substantiating
blow, blows, blown, blower, blowers, smoke, smokes, smoked, smoking