Smoke and mirrors

What does the « Smoke and mirrors » idiom mean?

Over time, the term « smoke and mirrors » made its way into everyday language as a metaphor for deception and illusion. When someone refers to a situation as « smoke and mirrors, » they are suggesting that there is a deliberate attempt to mislead or create a false perception.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, this expression is used to make you believe that something is being done or is true, when it is not. Someone gives you the impression of something or promises you something, when this is only an illusion or a lie.

Where does it come from?

The idiom « smoke and mirrors » can be traced back to the realm of stage magic and illusion, where performers captivate audiences with their sleight of hand and clever tricks. The phrase reflects the use of smoke to create mystery and mirrors to distort perception, producing an illusion that mystifies and confounds.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, magicians such as Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin and Harry Houdini popularized elaborate stage performances that often involved the strategic use of smoke and mirrors. The smoke added an element of mystique, concealing the magician’s movements and diverting attention, while mirrors were employed to create illusions, making objects appear or disappear with a touch of theatrical flair.

People may employ this phrase to highlight the use of tactics intended to distract, confuse, or mislead others. It has become a powerful way to convey skepticism and question the authenticity of presented information.

Examples to use this expression…

• Behind the smoke and mirrors of the state’s periodic mobilisations of schools, bureaucrats and unions the affective power of the ‘ official ‘ last emperor proved ambiguous.
• That was a remarkable display of smoke and mirrors.
• I hope that there will not be too much smoke and mirrors but just a straightforward explanation.

You can also say: to put someone off their stride, to take someone’s mind off something, rabbit hole, deception.

Translation into French: Poudre aux yeux (Powder in the eyes)