snake oil

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Goop debuted, it sometimes felt like snake oil.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2025

Then, these same brands dutifully patent an expensive snake oil antidote for poisoning you.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

But it’s not like personalized medicine is astrology or snake oil.

From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2023

Now, we also expect the government to prevent large factories from poisoning rivers and biotech companies from selling us snake oil.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2023

Two weeks after her burial, Rose’s husband arrived loaded with ingots of gold for the children, two-dollar pieces for the women and snake oil for the men.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison