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dog and pony show
01
a flashy or impressive event that lacks substance or meaning
Dialect
American
American
Disapproving
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "dog and pony show" and when to use it?
The idiom "dog and pony show" originated from circuses and traveling shows that had trained dogs and ponies performing impressive acts to entertain the audience. Eventually, the term started being used figuratively to describe situations where people put on a flashy display just for show, without providing meaningful content or value.
Examples
The conference was just a dog and pony show, full of flashy slides but no real ideas.
