smoke screen

noun
UK: /ˈsməʊk skriːn/
US: /ˈsmoʊk skriːn/

  1. Something done or said to hide the truth about someone's intentions or actions.

    1. He used a smoke screen to hide his real plans.
    2. The politician's speech was just a smoke screen to avoid answering the difficult questions about the scandal.

  2. A cloud of smoke used to hide military forces or equipment from the enemy.

    1. The ships used a smoke screen to escape.
    2. The army deployed a smoke screen, creating confusion among the advancing enemy troops, enabling their forces to retreat strategically.

Synonyms

cover-up deception ruse pretext facade camouflage
smoke screen verb

  1. To conceal one's intentions or activities behind a deceptive facade.

    1. They use lies to smoke screen the truth.
    2. The company tried to smoke screen its environmental damage by releasing misleading reports to the public.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "smoke screen" in English means: Something done or said to hide the truth about someone's intentions or actions., A cloud of smoke used to hide military forces or equipment from the enemy..

The phonetic transcription of "smoke screen" is /ˈsməʊk skriːn/ in British English and /ˈsmoʊk skriːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "smoke screen": cover-up, deception, ruse, pretext, facade, camouflage.

Example usage of "smoke screen": "He used a smoke screen to hide his real plans.". More examples on the page.