window dressing

window dressing {n. phr.}

An elaborate exterior, sometimes designed to conceal one's real motives.

All those fancy invitations turned out to be nothing but window dressing.

All he really wanted was to be introduced to my influential father-in-law.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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dressing down

[dressing down] {n.}, {informal} A scolding. * /The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined./ A Dictionary of American Idioms

dress a window

[dress a window] See: [WINDOW DRESSING]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

go out the window

[go out the window] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out of effect; be abandoned. * /During the war, the school dress code went out the window./ A Dictionary of American Idioms

launch window

[launch window] {n.}, {Space English}, {informal} 1. A period of time when the line-up of planets, Sun, and Moon are such as to make favorable conditions for a specific space […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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