smoke signal
noun [ C usually plural ] uk/ˈsməʊk ˌsɪɡ.nəl/ us/ˈsmoʊk ˌsɪɡ.nəl/
mainly UK烟雾信号
a signal that uses smoke from a fire to represent words, used to send messages over long distances
托词，烟幕
a statement that is a sign of what someone's intentions are
The chancellor was sending out smoke signals about the new budget proposal. 财政大臣正在就新的预算提案大放烟幕。