Usage of "snake oil" | TermGallery

Communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive.

Usage of snake oil in English

Did no good at all, except to keep snake oil salesmen in business. 
 Dark pursuit 

Viper wine is sandalwood, aloes -the viper element was probably snake oil. 
 Reuters 

Brood over all die many folk who have skidded on the snake oil. 
 A singular man 

Others believe the watch is more than just snake oil. 
 Wired 

My considered opinion is that what the TM folks are peddling is snake oil. 
 The fracture zone: my return to the balkans 

Neither they nor their technological snake oil should be trusted. 
 The Guardian 

He is the snake oil that keeps the wheels of ITV current affairs moving. 
 The Irish Times 

I can't believe you let some snake oil defense contractor get the jump on you. 
 The Jennifer Morgue 

If they protect us, I'll buy whatever snake oil they want to sell us or- 
 Wild Storm 

Maybe that edge is enough to matter -or maybe CA was selling snake oil. 
 The Guardian 

The appropriation of scientific teminology to tout snake oil. 
 Wired 

Sugarcoated speculation is for the purveyors of snake oil. 
 Love is the best medicine: what two dogs taught one veterinarian... 

He had been well rubbed down with snake oil. 
 The Guardian 

HE has a twinkle in his eye and the charm of a snake oil salesman. 
 The Irish Times 

Mary Poppins was selling snake oil it turns out. 
 Wired 

But as is true of every great snake oil salesman, what's promised is never what's delivered. 
 Ebony 

Meanings of snake oil in English