At LanguageHumanities, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.
What Does It Mean to "Blow Smoke"?
The term “blow smoke” generally indicates a falsehood or trickery. It is commonly used in a phrase about blowing smoke up someone’s rear end to mean that a person is being overly flattering or telling a lie in order to get another person to purchase something or do something else in particular. The phrase is also related to other common phrases like “smoke screens,” which also means to conceal the truth.
Some claim that the term “blow smoke” was inspired by magicians who use smoke and fog to conceal their tricks. The term has been around for many years, and it was often used to refer to corrupt sales people who peddled merchandise which did not deliver on the promises made by salesmen. It is also used when referring to car salesmen and other modern-day “snake oil” sales professionals who make overly hyped claims in order to make money.
Others claim that the concept of blowing smoke up one's backside originated from a method of treatment for patients requiring resuscitation. It is said that a rectal tube was inserted and smoke from burning tobacco was allowed to enter the body. This was supposed to cause the patient to take a breath or regain consciousness. These claims were obviously false and unsubstantiated, thus giving rise to the term "blowing smoke."
Many times, to “blow smoke” refers to flattery. This could be from a salesperson offering compliments in order to make a sale, or in general when one person tries to flatter another in a dishonest way. Although it originally primarily referred to flattery in terms of one person attempting to gain something from another, any sort of lie can now be considered “blowing smoke” now. This includes statements made that are obviously false, such as someone complimenting an overweight person on his or her physique.
To “blow smoke” is considered a slang term and is not generally used in formal writing or speech. It is not generally included in many formal or official dictionaries, although it is listed as an idiom in others. The phrase is also no longer limited to conversations which are aimed at getting person to do something for another, but may include virtually any lie, misleading statement, and sometimes verbal irony.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![Today, the term "blow smoke" is most often associated with car salesmen.]()
By: DeklofenakToday, the term "blow smoke" is most often associated with car salesmen. -
![Some claim that the term “blow smoke” was inspired by magicians who use smoke and fog to conceal their tricks.]()
By: ysbrandcosijnSome claim that the term “blow smoke” was inspired by magicians who use smoke and fog to conceal their tricks. -
![Complimenting an overweight person on his or her physique may be considered "blowing smoke."]()
By: Ljupco SmokovskiComplimenting an overweight person on his or her physique may be considered "blowing smoke."
Discussion Comments
@anon331721-- My dad told me that "blow smoke" originates from WWI, not from war at sea but rather on land.
Apparently, the allies in WWI tried different tactics to trick the Germans to give away where they were shooting from. They would make human dummies, place them in the trenches and wait for the Germans to see them and shoot, so they could shoot back.
After a few days, the enemy figured out what was going on and wouldn't shoot at the dummies. So the Allies fooled them one more time by blowing smoke from the dummies' mouths with a tube. And of course, it worked!
I have no idea if this has any truth to it but it sounds plausible to me.
Salespeople are so good at blowing smoke! I've been deceived several times by salespeople who were very good at making their product sound like the best thing since sliced bread.
@anon331721-- That's very interesting, I had never heard that before. Thanks for sharing.
The only story about the origin of this phrase I had heard until now was that it was a methods used to revive drowning people or to treat different medication conditions. Doctors had these rectal enemas with a place to burn tobacco at one end and they would push the smoke up into the patient.
But this doesn't explain how the idiom came to mean trickery or flattery because it was truly an accepted medical procedure back then. I don't think anyone considered it to be trickery until perhaps much later.
It's from the naval practice of having smaller ships create smoke clouds which draft over and obscure other larger, more important ships to hide them from the enemy.
Post your comments