Smoke and Mirrors

"Smoke and mirrors" refers to tactics used to create a misleading impression or deceive people by hiding the truth or making something appear better than it actually is. It originates from performers using smoke and reflective illusions to obscure or manipulate what the audience perceives. In everyday use, it describes situations where information is deliberately obscured or distorted to divert attention, obscure flaws, or impress others with false appearances. Essentially, it's about creating an illusion that distracts from reality, often to gain some advantage or hide underlying issues.