A smoke-filled room
noun
A room filled with smoke, often referred to places where people smoke cigars, cigarettes or pipes.
Uncle Joe always sat in the corner of the smoke-filled room, puffing on his pipe and listening to jazz.
Often appears as...
- sit in a smoke-filled room
- escape from a smoke-filled room
noun
A reference to secret or unofficial political meetings or negotiations, symbolizing the lack of transparency.
Decisions about the new legislation were not made in the assembly hall, but in a smoke-filled room.
Often appears as...
- decisions made in a smoke-filled room
- meet in a smoke-filled room
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A room filled with smoke, often referred to places where people smoke cigars, cigarettes or pipes.
Uncle Joe always sat in the corner of the smoke-filled room, puffing on his pipe and listening to jazz.
Often appears as...
- sit in a smoke-filled room
- escape from a smoke-filled room
noun
A reference to secret or unofficial political meetings or negotiations, symbolizing the lack of transparency.
Decisions about the new legislation were not made in the assembly hall, but in a smoke-filled room.
Often appears as...
- decisions made in a smoke-filled room
- meet in a smoke-filled room
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally described actual rooms, now used for describing places or atmospheres filled with smoke.
The bar was just like the old days, a smoke-filled room with blues playing.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Imagery
Implies a stuffy, uncomfortable or unhealthy environment, often used to negatively describe indoor spaces.
He left the party early because it turned into a smoke-filled room.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Obscurity
Can imply limited visibility, used to set a scene with obscured sight due to smoke.
Amidst the smoke-filled room, it was hard to see the faces around.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally described actual rooms, now used for describing places or atmospheres filled with smoke.
The bar was just like the old days, a smoke-filled room with blues playing.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Imagery
Implies a stuffy, uncomfortable or unhealthy environment, often used to negatively describe indoor spaces.
He left the party early because it turned into a smoke-filled room.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Obscurity
Can imply limited visibility, used to set a scene with obscured sight due to smoke.
Amidst the smoke-filled room, it was hard to see the faces around.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Usage
Originally described actual rooms, now used for describing places or atmospheres filled with smoke.
The bar was just like the old days, a smoke-filled room with blues playing.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Imagery
Implies a stuffy, uncomfortable or unhealthy environment, often used to negatively describe indoor spaces.
He left the party early because it turned into a smoke-filled room.
Pro Tip 3/3Visual Obscurity
Can imply limited visibility, used to set a scene with obscured sight due to smoke.
Amidst the smoke-filled room, it was hard to see the faces around.
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