eyewash

Meanings

Noun

• The washing out of the eyes with copious water (usually water alone) to quickly remove an irritant, as for example in laboratories and industrial plants.
• A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes.
• Nonsense, flattery or pretentiousness.

Verb

• To fool with nonsense or flattery.
• To keep information secret by sending false information to many people in one's own organization, and correct information to a select few.

Related

Similar words

• window dressing

Origin

• eye + wash