snake oil
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snake oil
n.
1. A worthless preparation fraudulently peddled as a cure for many ills.
2. Speech or writing intended to deceive; humbug.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
snake oil
n
1. any pseudo-medical remedy endorsed by a non-qualified person
2. talk that is intended to impress others but is insincere or deceiving
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
snake′ oil`
n.
a liquid concoction of questionable medical value sold as an all-purpose curative, esp. by traveling hucksters.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | snake oil - (medicine) any of various liquids sold as medicine (as by a travelling medicine show) but medically worthless medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques liquid - a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure |
2. | snake oil - communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive |
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