Potemkin Village (Noun)
Meaning
Something that seems impressive but in fact lacks substance.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The company's gleaming new headquarters turned out to be a Potemkin village, hiding a business on the verge of bankruptcy.
- The politician's promises of reform were nothing more than a Potemkin village, designed to distract from the lack of real action.
- The fancy website and sleek marketing materials made the startup look impressive, but behind the scenes it was a Potemkin village, with no actual product or revenue.
- The dictator's showcase city was a Potemkin village, with its gleaming skyscrapers and manicured parks masking the poverty and oppression that lay just beyond.
- The celebrity's public image was a Potemkin village, hiding a troubled personal life and a career that was on the rocks.