The word came from the second world war, describing the smoke from German anti-aircraft shells, and hence the puffed-up information or exaggerated shows Mr Safire and his sort provided.

该词来自第二次世界大战，本是描述德军防空炮弹爆炸时产生的浓烟，后来就转指赛菲尔先生和其公关业同行所提供的自吹自擂的信息或夸张的表演。

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But nothing is a last word, and Coward's long prime ended suddenly, his fortunes collapsing in the aftermath of the second world war.

ECONOMIST: Collected letters