ENGLISH
REFERENCE

snake oil

idiom

A fraudulent, ineffective potion or nostrum; panacea.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    add oil

    Synonym of let's go: a cheer of encouragement, support, etc.

  2. 02

    burn the midnight oil

    To work studiously, especially late into the night.

  3. 03

    come up with snake eyes

    To fail to come up with anything; to get nowhere.

  4. 04

    drain the snake

    To urinate.

  5. 05

    go snake

    To act in an erratic or unrestrained manner.

  6. 06

    oil and water

    Two things which are incapable of mixing or coexisting harmoniously with each other.

  7. 07

    oil burner

    A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.

  8. 08

    oil trash

    An uncultured, rowdy roughneck employed in the petroleum industry, especially a "white trash" person if used negatively.

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