snake oil

Từ điển WordNet v3.1 - WordNet Dictionary

noun

1. (medicine) any of various liquids sold as medicine (as by a travelling medicine show) but medically worthless (Freq. 1)
• Topics:
medicine, medical specialty
• Hypernyms:
liquid
2. communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive
• Syn:
humbug
• Hypernyms:
misrepresentation, deceit, deception