Deception, metaphorically

The answer to the crossword question “deception, metaphorically is SMOKE” is likely the word ‘smokescreen‘. A smokescreen is a metaphorical way of describing an action or statement that is intended to deceive or distract from the truth. The term ‘smokescreen‘ comes from the military tactic of creating a smoke-filled barrier in order to conceal troops or equipment from the enemy. In a similar way, people may use figurative ‘smoke’ to conceal their true motivations or intentions. Overall, the answer to this crossword question is a metaphorical reference to the concept of deception.