- (formal, often disapproving)
speech or writing that is intended to influence people, but that is not completely honest or sincere 华而不实的言语；花言巧语 the rhetoric of political slogans 政治口号的虚华辞藻 Her speech was just empty rhetoric. 她的演讲只是些浮夸之词。 His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric by the opposition. 他的讲话仅被反对派夸夸其谈。
Extra ExamplesBehind all the rhetoric, his relations with the army are tense. 在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系实则处于紧张状态。 He was prepared to use militant rhetoric in attacking his opponents. 他不惜使用犀利的言辞攻击对手。 Little has changed, despite the rhetoric about reform. 尽管关于改革的言辞颇为动听，但情况基本没什么改变。 official rhetoric on the virtues of large families 有关大家庭优点的官方言辞
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- empty
- mere
- fiery
- …
- adopt
- employ
- engage in
- …
- behind the rhetoric
- beneath the rhetoric
- despite the rhetoric
- …
- (formal)
the art of using language in speech or writing in a special way that influences or entertains people 修辞技巧；修辞
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French rethorique, via Latin from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of rhetoric’, from rhētōr ‘rhetor’.