Phrase guide

blow smoke

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To speak with a lack of credibility, sense, purpose, or truth; to speak nonsense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Are these "statistics" they cite verifiable, or are they just blowing smoke, trying to scare people?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blow smoke up someone's ass

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

By shortening of the full expression blow smoke up someone's ass, deemed less vulgar.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: говоря празни приказки (govorja prazni prikazki) — idiomatic
  • Bulgarian: хвърлям прах в очите (hvǎrljam prah v očite) — idiomatic
  • Bulgarian: хвърля прах в очите (hvǎrlja prah v očite) — idiomatic
  • Catalan: marejar la perdiu — idiomatic
  • Finnish: höpöttää — idiomatic
  • Finnish: jaaritella — idiomatic
  • Finnish: jauhaa — idiomatic
  • Finnish: puhua joutavia — idiomatic
  • French: parler pour ne rien dire — idiomatic
  • Greek: ρίχνω στάχτη στα μάτια (ríchno stáchti sta mátia) — idiomatic
  • Italian: parlare a vanvera — idiomatic
  • Polish: wciskać kit — idiomatic
  • Polish: wcisnąć kit — idiomatic
  • Spanish: meter floro — idiomatic
  • Spanish: florear — idiomatic