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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of song and dance
In Barnes’ case, the boots aren’t just for weekend wear or a short drag routine but need to endure eight shows a week of energetic song and dance performances.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Before long, smitten cast members, including Sarah Sherman and a cameraman wearing an I (Heart) Harry shirt who kept focusing on Styles, proved too much for Gosling, who called off a big song and dance number featuring most of the cast in silver space attire.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Not his first blockbuster deal This isn’t Gore’s first time doing the song and dance of being traded.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 22 Jan. 2026
Just stop with this whole song and dance between Kuminga and Steve Kerr.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Before long, smitten cast members, including Sarah Sherman and a cameraman wearing an I (Heart) Harry shirt who kept focusing on Styles, proved too much for Gosling, who called off a big song and dance number featuring most of the cast in silver space attire.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Not his first blockbuster deal This isn’t Gore’s first time doing the song and dance of being traded.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 22 Jan. 2026
Just stop with this whole song and dance between Kuminga and Steve Kerr.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for song and dance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song and dance
Noun
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However, the website of the pro-cap campaign appears to draw on anti-Muslim rhetoric to make its case.—
Sebastian Shukla,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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And despite the Education Department’s rhetoric, borrowers are still getting their student loans discharged.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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And the rigmarole of international travel is a very good reason.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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Alternatives were mooted, such as filming in England, but flying all the crew from Poland, and their associated visa requirements, would have added to the rigmarole.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This dumbed-down Goebbels gobbledygook revived talking points that Habermas had tried to quash during the Historikerstreit.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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But at least some of it was gobbledygook.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
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United States Women’s National Team attacker Ally Sentnor came to the Kansas City Current in August with much hype and fanfare.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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No matter what the hype, candles, sonic devices, and bracelets don’t keep mosquitoes away.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
Noun
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On Saturday Night Live, host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney played a couple of gibberish-speaking mechanics who end up taking some naive car owners for a ride.—
William Vaillancourt,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
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And these worlds aren’t even real, just ones and zeros merged to form a network of communication that sometimes feels like incoherent gibberish.—
Brandon Kaipo Moningka,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Driving the news: The statement was published only in English on the Facebook page of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office — potentially another case of double-talk by Netanyahu.—
Barak Ravid,
Axios,
27 Sep. 2024
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The GOP Senate candidate in Arizona, whose brand is a combative, never-back-down MAGA politics, has adopted a position on the issue that is nearly indistinguishable from that of double-talking Democrats.—
Rich Lowry,
National Review,
14 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Song and dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song%20and%20dance. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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