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Definition of snake oil noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

snake oil

noun

/ˈsneɪk ɔɪl/

/ˈsneɪk ɔɪl/

[uncountable] (especially North American English, informal)

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something, for example medicine, that somebody tries to sell you, but that is not effective or useful
- a snake oil salesman
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See snake oil in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Check pronunciation: snake oil

Nearby words

noun

From the Word list

B2

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