noun
[ U ] ( informal , especially NAmE ) something, for example medicine, that sb tries to sell you, but that is not effective or useful :
a snake-oil salesman
noun
[ U ] ( informal , especially NAmE ) something, for example medicine, that sb tries to sell you, but that is not effective or useful :
a snake-oil salesman
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005