blow smoke

blow smoke

1. To boast; brag; exaggerate: copssitting around drinking, blowing smoke, and kidding (1940s+)
2. (also blow smoke up someone's ass or blow heat) To mislead; confuse; deceive: Anybody who tells you different's just blowing smoke up your ass (1940s+)
3. To flatter; sweet-talk: Do you mean it, or are you just blowing smoke? (1940s+)
4. To smoke marijuana or hashish: Everybody blew smoke there. You could buy hash (1930s+)

[fr both the presumed effects of smoking opium and the confusing and concealing effect of making a smokescreen]