a snake-oil salesman
Meaning: A swindler who sells fake remedies or worthless solutions.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “That financial guru promising 50% returns is just a snake-oil salesman.”
Category: Animals
Origin: In 19th-century America, traveling salesmen sold "snake oil" as a cure-all, often with no snake in it. In 1917 a seller named Clark Stanley was fined when his product was found to contain mineral oil and other cheap ingredients.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Un chevalier d'industrie — literally: A knight of industry
- French: De la poudre de perlimpinpin — literally: Perlimpinpin powder
More idioms — Animals
- pipped at the post — To be beaten at the very last moment.
- a nest of vipers — A group of people who scheme against or betray each other.
- once bitten, twice shy — After a bad experience, one is much more cautious.
- give someone a leg up — To help someone make progress or get started.
- earn one's spurs — To prove one's ability and gain recognition.
- have the inside track — To have an advantage over others.
More English idioms
- shut up shop — To close a business, either for the day or for good.
- it doesn't take a rocket scientist — Something is easy to understand; no special intelligence is needed.
- do a moonlight flit — To leave one's home secretly at night, usually to avoid paying rent or debts.
- twiddle one's thumbs — To do nothing while waiting or out of boredom.
- I could eat a horse — I am extremely hungry.
- there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip — Many things can go wrong before a plan succeeds.
From our proverbs
- Procrastination is the thief of time. — Delaying tasks gradually steals away your hours until nothing remains to complete them.
- He is poor indeed that cannot promise nothing. — Poverty of character stems from inability to offer even modest hope or commitment to othe…
- Be slow to promise, but quick to perform. — Caution in commitment prevents broken trust; swift action in fulfilling pledges builds re…