eli5 Where did the phrase “blowing smoke” come from? What does it have to do with lying?

Question

eli5 Where did the phrase “blowing smoke” come from? What does it have to do with lying?

In: Other

Answer 1

The full expression is “blowing smoke up your a$$”

It was a “medical procedure” doctors used for various ailments. It was fake and it didn’t do anything – pretty much like blood letting.

There’s a decent explanation here: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/05/origin-expression-blow-smoke-ass/