smoke-filled room

[ smohk-fild, -fild ]
/ ˈsmoʊkˌfɪld, -ˈfɪld /

noun

a place, as a hotel room, for conducting secret negotiations, effecting compromises, devising strategy, etc.

Origin of smoke-filled room

First recorded in 1915–20

Words nearby smoke-filled room

Cultural definitions for smoke-filled room

smoke-filled room

A popular expression used to describe a place where the political wheeling and dealing of machine bosses (see machine politics) is conducted. The image originated during the Republican presidential nominating convention of 1920, in which Warren G. Harding emerged as a dark horse candidate.