snake-oil

Charlatan's miracle cure

Snake-oil refers to a fraudulent remedy or product marketed with exaggerated claims.

The term comes from worthless patent medicines once sold by traveling salesmen who promised miracle cures.

Now it applies to any dubious solution pushed with more salesmanship than substance: The startup's AI platform turned out to be snake-oil.

A snake-oil salesman is someone who peddles such goods or ideas.

fraud

charlatan

Faker claiming false expertise

quackFake healer or fowl noise
scamDishonest money-making scheme
swindleDeception for financial gain

huckster · con artist · hoax · deception · fake · sham · mountebank · flimflam · grifter · fraud

medicine

elixir

Mythical healing draught

tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
cure-allSupposed universal remedy
patent medicineTrademarked unproven remedy

panacea · remedy · liniment · nostrum · potion · miracle cure · balm · salve · placebo · quackery

marketing

hype

Exaggerated promotional fanfare

pitchFrequency of sound
infomercialExtended TV sales broadcast
testimonialStatement praising someone's qualities

gimmick · clickbait · overpromise · buzzword · spin · misleading · exaggeration · advertising · claims · promotion

Opposites

legitimacy/efficacy

snake-oiltried-and-true

Proven reliable over time

authenticity/deception

snake-oilgenuine article

Authentic original item

straight talk · truth in advertising · no-nonsense · plain dealing · transparency

substance/value

snake-oilthe real thing

Authentic original version

substance · true worth · solid gold · merit

Family

snake, oil, snakes, snaked, snaking, snaky, snakelike, oils, oiled

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G