smoke screen


noun

a mass of dense smoke produced to conceal an area, vessel, or plane from the enemy.
something intended to disguise, conceal, or deceive; camouflage.

Origin of smoke screen

First recorded in 1910–15

Example sentences from the Web for smoke-screen

  • It "boomed" as it struck the water and threw out the smoke-screen in most approved navy fashion.

    Adventures in Swaziland |Owen Rowe O'Neil
  • In the rifts of the smoke-screen could be discerned the tripod masts, enormous top-hamper and up-trained guns of the monitors.

  • In the center of the smoke-screen Gregory sat at a small table, hammering away at a typewriter.

    El Diablo |Brayton Norton

British Dictionary definitions for smoke-screen

smoke screen

noun

military a cloud of smoke produced by artificial means to obscure movements or positions
something said or done in order to hide the truth