dog and pony show
Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate, while lacking real substance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The meeting was just a boring dog and pony show.”
“The company organized a big dog and pony show to impress investors, but they had no real product to sell.”
“Despite the elaborate dog and pony show presented by the consultants, the board remained unconvinced that the proposed strategy offered any genuine value.”
- 01
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 02
call off the dogs
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
- 03
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
- 04
dog and cat
A team comprising one male and one female, either working as associates or having one as the second-in-command to the other.
- 05
dog around
To follow diligently.
- 06
dog in the hunt
Something that may lead to gain, depending on the outcome; a position for which to campaign or cheer.
- 07
dog in the manger
Someone who denies to others something that the denier cannot use.
- 08
dog my cats
Used as a mild oath, or as an expression of astonishment
Last updated August 10, 2026