song and dance

noun

Definition of song and dancenext
as in rhetoric
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions instead of simply denying our request, the mayor's representative gave us a song and dance about legal issues and municipal liability

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of song and dance In the 19th century, flamenco dancers began using the abanico as an expressive prop, as Cuban song and dance styles such as the guajira influenced the dance form. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 My initial eye-roll reaction to this song and dance would suggest that in late May, shortly after the restaurant opened, my whimsy levels were running dangerously low. — Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 This was before their dominance era, so the old noisy neighbours wanted to make a big song and dance out of the deal and erected a huge ‘Welcome to Manchester’ billboard to reflect what would soon be a changing of the guard in the city. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026 Luis Arraez is familiar with the song and dance of the trade deadline. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song and dance
  1. rhetoric
  2. rigmarole
  3. gobbledygook
  4. hype
  5. gibberish
  6. double-talk
Noun
  • Israel and Iran ramped up their rhetoric against one another, raising the prospect of a return to open conflict in the Middle East.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Israeli-American Council forcefully condemned his rhetoric as dangerous, dehumanizing hate speech.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhetoric
Noun
  • There was a lot of rigamarole with the studio over Keanu Reeves, as John Wick, cutting off a finger in the John Wick series, so that’s an interesting yet familiar story.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And the rigmarole of international travel is a very good reason.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
Definition of rigmarole
Noun
  • This dumbed-down Goebbels gobbledygook revived talking points that Habermas had tried to quash during the Historikerstreit.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • But at least some of it was gobbledygook.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Definition of gobbledygook
Noun
  • Meanwhile, those outside the program are wondering whether Manning and Sarkisian can finally produce a performance that matches the hype.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • While the grocer has several locations across Los Angeles, its Beverly Hills outpost is the biggest scene and a tourist attraction in its own right, drawing visitors who make a point of stopping in to see what the hype is about.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of hype
Noun
  • Dozens of countries’ names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of other countries' names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gibberish
Noun
  • Pat Paulsen, a master of dry wit, delivered droll, double-talk editorials on social issues before mounting a presidential campaign in 1968 with the Straight Talkin’ American Government (STAG) Party.
    — Fred A. Bernstein, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023
  • What new form of narrative, what gory amalgam of truth and spectacle, what double-talking rough beast approaches?
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2023
Definition of double-talk

Browse Nearby Words

song
song and dance
songbook
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Song and dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song%20and%20dance. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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