Snake oil
WordNet
noun
(1) Communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive
(2) (medicine) any of various liquids sold as medicine (as by a travelling medicine show) but medically worthless
WiktionaryText
Noun
- Snake oil is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat joint pain.
- A type of 19th century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments.
- A fraudulent, ineffective potion or nostrum; panacea.
- Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.