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
smoke shop,
smoke tree,
smoke-dried,
smoke-dry,
smoke-eater,
smoke-filled room,
smokechaser,
smoked meat,
smoked rubber,
smokeho,
smokehouse
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.