done by mirrors

(all) done by mirrors

Done using trickery, deception, or misdirection. Before computer generated effects, fantastic, unbelievable things in movies were all done by mirrors.
See also: by, done, mirror
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

done by mirrors

and done with mirrors
mod. illusory; accomplished in a way that is purposefully deceptive. He’s not really smart. It’s all done by mirrors. The whole budgetary process is done with mirrors.
See also: by, done, mirror
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • (all) done by mirrors
  • (all) done with mirrors
  • all done with mirrors
  • mirror
  • done with mirrors
  • done
  • no time like the present
  • no time like the present, there's
  • there's no time like the present
  • good and quickly seldom meet
References in periodicals archive
You can sit in a dalek, talk like a dalek, make a TARDIS land (all done by mirrors) and see the TARDIS control room.
Who's Who in TV space
He added: "Five years ago, when things took off here, even people in the republic wondered if it was all done by mirrors or if it was a mirage.
Stag night hangover; Irish tiger savages Gus over jibes at the SNP's greenprint for Scotland
It's all done by mirrors, you know, this empowerment thing.
GIRLS FULL OF MACHO NONSENSE