The phrase “blowing smoke” refers to deception or flattery, often used by salespeople or dishonest individuals. Its origin is debated, with some attributing it to magicians and others to a false medical treatment. It can refer to any type of lie and is considered slang.
The term “blowing smoke” generally indicates a falsehood or deception. It is commonly used in a phrase about smoke blowing up someone’s butt to mean that a person is being overly flattering or telling a lie to get another person to buy something or do something else in particular. The phrase is also related to other common phrases such as “smokescreens,” which also means to hide the truth.
Some argue that the term “blow smoke” was inspired by magicians who use smoke and fog to hide their tricks. The term has been around for many years and has often been used to refer to corrupt sellers who sell goods that do not deliver on the promises made by the sellers. It is also used when referring to auto salesmen and other modern day “snake oil” sales professionals who make overly hyped claims to make money.
Others argue that the concept of blowing smoke up your butt originated as a treatment method for patients needing resuscitation. It is said that a rectal tube was inserted and smoke from the burnt tobacco was allowed to enter the body. This should have prompted 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, “blowing smoke” refers to flattery. This could be a salesperson offering compliments to close a sale, or generally when one person tries to flatter another dishonestly. While it originally referred primarily to flattery in terms of one person attempting to get something from another, any type of lie can now be considered “blowing smoke.” This includes statements made that are obviously false, such as someone complimenting an overweight person on their physique.
“Blowing 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 a idiom in others. Furthermore, the phrase is no longer limited to conversations aimed at getting one person to do something for another, but can include just about any lie, misleading statement, and sometimes verbal irony.
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