[Idiom] BLOW SMOKE. - Understand the Truth Behind Exaggerations

To deceive or exaggerate.

To “blow smoke” doesn’t involve any real smoke. Instead, this phrase refers to situations where someone is being misleading or exaggerating truths to impress or deceive others. It comes from the notion of magicians using smoke to obscure their movements and create illusions, thus the metaphor for obfuscation or deceptive behavior in conversation.

Example Sentences

1. He's just blowing smoke—don't trust everything he says.

   The speaker advises not to believe someone who tends to exaggerate or fabricate things.

2. She always blows smoke about her connections in the industry.

   This implies she often exaggerates her professional connections to impress others.

3. Whenever he doesn't want to reveal the truth, he starts blowing smoke to confuse everyone.

   The individual uses ambiguities or misleading statements to avoid disclosing the truth.