snake oil salesman

snake oil salesman

Someone who sells, promotes, or is a general proponent of some valueless or fraudulent cure, remedy, or solution. (Can also be formed as "saleswoman" or "salesperson.") I find it hard to believe anyone would fall for those snake oil salesmen on TV selling holistic medicines and therapies. A lot of people have been swayed by the presidential candidate's plan for economic growth, but if you ask me, she sounds like a snake oil saleswoman.
See also: oil, salesman, snake
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • snake oil
  • rob (one) blind
  • rob blind
  • rob somebody blind
  • rob someone blind
  • hype artist
  • swindle
  • swindle (one) out of (something)
  • swindle out of
  • be just the thing
References in periodicals archive
He was a snake oil salesman. It was all smoke and mirrors.
`Snake oil salesman'
In sentencing, the judge described him as a "snake oil salesman" and said the devices were "entirely a sham".
A long list of failures.
Daft Don's just another snake oil salesman who probably thinks erudite is a glue.
FINAL PROOF THAT DAFT DON'S JUST NUT WITH IT
The prickly, pocket-sized presenter sounds like a 21st century snake oil salesman for pushing a PS2,500 electromagnetic pulse machine as a cancer treatment when even the manufacturer dismisses his claims.
TV host is a prize fool; VOICE OF THE
The American snake oil salesman has been in the UK, churning out begging letters and holding a rally to heal the sick.
Is the old charlatan [...]
He was a snake oil salesman who could have filled buckets of the stuff.
Slippery Cam is savaged by angry voters
I CAN'T help but liken David Cameron to a snake oil salesman, such is his desperation to hold on to power.
We mustn't let PM annihilate Labour; Madeuthink
NAME: DAVID CAMERON, 46 JOB: Prime Minister EDUCATION: Eton College & Oxford FORMER JOB: Snake oil salesman for Carlton TV.
Archbishop damns Cam; CHURCH LEADER BLASTS TORY WAR ON POOR
And the tragedy is Mr Snake Oil Salesman's shameless spin is being swallowed.
Brown faces his last shuffle of the pack
The Labour government's failure to make the case for taxes over the past dozen years is coming back to haunt it as David Cameron plays the snake oil salesman.
Gord must face Cam in tax-lies shoot-out