to spend time doing or saying things that will make people admire or support you, instead of dealing with more important matters.

Politicians these days are more interested in playing to the gallery than exercising real influence on world events.

• give someone the boot
• give someone the cold shoulder
• give someone the creeps
• give someone the elbow
• give someone the evil eye
• give someone the finger
• give someone the glad eye
• give someone the green light
• give someone the heave ho
• give someone the heebie-jeebies
• give someone their due
• give someone their head
• give someone their marching orders
• give someone their walking papers
• give someone the jitters
• give someone the kiss of life
• give someone the nod
• give someone the old heave ho
• give someone the once-over
• give someone the push
• give someone the right of first refusal
• give someone the right to first refusal
• give someone the rough side of tongue
• give someone the rough side of your tongue
• give someone the runaround